MIDFIELDER Jason Demetriou insists Orient will bounce back at Wycombe on Saturday despite their 4-0 defeat at Norwich in midweek, writes TREVOR DAVIES. O s were sunk by a four-goal blast in the last 15 minutes, after they had been reduced to 10 men follow

MIDFIELDER Jason Demetriou insists Orient will bounce back at Wycombe on Saturday despite their 4-0 defeat at Norwich in midweek, writes TREVOR DAVIES.

O's were sunk by a four-goal blast in the last 15 minutes, after they had been reduced to 10 men following JJ Melligan's dismissal.

With both sides currently in the drop zone, the game has suddenly become a relegation battle, but the O's youngster is certain the only way is up.

"I know we have dropped back into the bottom four, but three more points would put us half-way up the table," said Demetriou yesterday (Wednesday).

"We have proved we can match the big boys. We beat Millwall last weekend and the lads are all raring to go on Saturday, especially Scott (McGleish)."

The veteran striker will be keen to put one over the Chairboys, after falling out of favour with their boss Peter Taylor, and Demetriou is certain Orient can go there and win.

"We don't want to get sucked into trouble and be looking over our shoulders all the time.

"There is enough ability in the side and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before we start climbing the table," said the midfielder, who hopes to have several stitches removed tomorrow (Friday) from a head wound he suffered against Millwall last weekend.

"I hope to have the stitches out before the Wycombe game and be okay," said Demetriou, who came on as a substitute at Norwich.

"It was a big wound and there was a worry it could split open with any contact. So I wasn't 100 per cent on Tuesday," he added.

Wycombe, who were promoted from League Two, have picked up only six points from their first 10 games and have just a solitary win to their name, a 2-1 home success against Bristol Rovers at the end of August.

And while Taylor's side could take little comfort from their home defeat by Tranmere on Tuesday, at least Demetriou and company can draw on the fact that the O's held out against Norwich for 75 minutes.

The turning point came when Melligan was unfortunate to be shown a red card on 53 minutes.

Brave O's tried hard to stem the tide and the 10-men held out for another 22 minutes, before being swept aside.

"The sending off turned the game," said Demetriou. "For the first half we were very much in it, and the red card changed the game massively.

"Looking at the video, JJ (Melligan) pulled out of the challenge. Hopefully, the referee will look at it, but the decision cost us on the night."

Orient boss Geraint Williams was equally unhappy with referee Karl Evans, and made his feeling clear at the end and the O's are considering an appeal.

If unsuccessful, Melligan will face a three-game ban, but he will be available for Saturday's basement showdown. "I do think there will be grounds to contest the sending off," said Williams after the game.

"We'll have a look at it in slow-motion and we'll have to wait and see."

Williams believed the decision changed the course of the game: "It doesn't matter whether I think it was the right decision or not.

"The red card was given, we were down to 10 men and we ended up losing the game 4-0.

"I don't know what impact it had on the game because if it had been 11 v 11 it would have been a totally different game.

"What we do know is that when we were a man down we found it a lot harder. We're still disappointed to concede four goals, but it certainly didn't make the job any easier and it was 0-0 at the time.

"We did defend well up until the last 15 minutes and when you come to places like this you have to do that."

"I think the game was very finely balanced and going a man down tipped it Norwich's way."

Orient are in action on Tuesday in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, when they entertain Brighton. Kick-off 7pm.