McAnuff steering Orient to playoffs

After only a month into his spell as interim manager of English League Two side Leyton Orient, former Reggae Boy Jobi McAnuff has his team firmly in the hunt for a place in the league's playoffs after seemingly being out of the race because of poor results.

McAnuff recorded his third straight win with the team after Orient defeated Oldham Athletic 2-1 last Saturday to move into ninth place in the standings and four points away from a play-off spot. McAnuff took over the team in late February until the end of the current season following the departure of Ross Embleton after seven consecutive games without a win and the team lingering in 14th place, eight points adrift of the play-off places.

Keep the momentum going

However, in an interview with the East London Advertiser yesterday, he said that it was important for his team to keep the momentum going heading into the final stretch of the season, despite his pride in being among the play-off contenders once more.

"I think if you would have said after Scunthorpe (drew 1-1) that we would have been where we were. I don't think many would have given us a chance, but we've always believed in the group," McAnuff said. "I spoke about momentum to the boys and how important that can be as once you get it you start feeling it. It gets you through games at times."

McAnuff has four wins out of his seven games so far as manager which includes the three-match winning streak. He originally signed an extension with the team last July to a player/coach role and made more than 100 appearances for the club as a player. With nine games to go in the season, Leyton Orient play-off chase continues with two critical fixtures this Easter weekend beginning Friday when they travel to 19th-place Mansfield Town before hosting 20th-place Walsall next Monday.