Orient fell to their third successive league defeat when visitors Wycombe ran out 3-1 winners at Brisbane Road.

The hosts made a slow start and were punished inside ten minutes when Ben Strevens found space to head beyond Lee Butcher.

Dean Cox restored parity for the hosts after 15 minutes but the Chairboys had the lead again three minutes later courtesy of a Scott Donnelly penalty.

Despite a bright start to the second half, Joel Grant extended the lead as Wycombe moved to close out the game.

Russell Slade kept faith with the side that lost to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, naming the exact same squad.

Captain Stephen Dawson was handed a start again in midfield gaining valuable minutes as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Jamie Cureton led the line alongside former Wycombe striker Alex Revell as the O’s went in search of their first league goals of the season.

Butcher continued in goal following the news that Jamie Jones could be out for up to six months, but Slade again chose not to name a replacement stopper.

On the bench, Terrell Forbes, Marc Laird and David Mooney were all fit enough to be considered for action.

The opening ten minutes saw few chances for either side but the visitors showed a killer instinct when given a clear opening.

Donnelly’s corner was only partially cleared to veteran Gareth Ainsworth who’s cross from the right found Strevens to head home from six yards.

Neither side were able to create any further chances until the quarter hour mark when Cox levelled for the O’s.

Elliot Omozusi found himself in behind Andy Sandell on the Orient right and his low cross found Cox on the edge of the area to curl the ball in with his first touch.

The scores were level for just three minutes though as the Chairboys immediately sought to hit back and were awarded a penalty when Stuart Beavon was tripped by Dawson.

With regular spot kick taker Scott Rendell on the bench, Donnelly stepped up and comfortably passed the ball into the bottom right corner.

While Wycombe were not looking to sit back on their lead it was the O’s who looked most likely to score next, with Cox proving particularly lively on the left.

His industry out wide worked a number of chances for the hosts as Cureton struggled to make a decent connection, while Charlie Daniels blasted wide.

The visitors continued to look a threat going forward but it was Orient creating the chances.

Ten minutes before half time, a pressing run from Daniels resulted in Dawson trying his look from a tight angle, but his fierce drive was pulled narrowly wide.

Revell had a chance to send the hosts in level at the break, reacting quickly to Daniels’ spilled shot but Nikki Bull was able to gather the loose ball.

Orient made a bright start to the second period but it was Wycombe who struck next.

Ainsworth’s cross from the right found Grant in the middle and the winger was able to steer his header beyond Butcher at full stretch.

The O’s switched to a more attack minded formation with the introduction of Porter and Mooney and the two combined immediately for the latter to cross but it was too strong for the on-rushing red shirts.

The hosts had an appeal for a penalty on 71 minutes following a neat move from Omozusi and Cureton.

When the cross fell towards Mooney, the former Reading man felt he was shoved over by Dave Winfield but the referee said no penalty.

Orient kept fighting though and Porter was presented with a glorious chance to pull one back with ten minutes to play.

Starting level with the defence, he latched on to an inch-perfect through ball but his drilled effort fell narrowly wide as the O’s lost out.

Orient: Butcher; Omozusi, Chorley, Cuthbert, Daniels; Smith (Porter 59), Spring, Dawson, Cox; Revell (Mooney 59), Cureton.

Subs: Forbes, Laird, Richardson.

Wycombe: Bull; Foster, Winfield, Tunnicliffe, Sandell; Ainsworth (Bloomfield 61), Halls, Donnelly (Harding 92), Grant; Strevens, Beavon (Benyon 78).

Subs: Johnson, Rendell.

Attendance: 3,503 (480)