ORIENT travel to Stockport County on Saturday, looking to record three league wins in a row, for the first time this season, writes TREVOR DAVIES. Victory against Jim Gannon s side at the weekend would give Orient s League One survival hopes a massive boo

ORIENT travel to Stockport County on Saturday, looking to record three league wins in a row, for the first time this season, writes TREVOR DAVIES.

Victory against Jim Gannon's side at the weekend would give Orient's League One survival hopes a massive boost following back-to-back wins against Brighton and Carlisle.

With 10 games left to play, 13 more points should be enough to preserve Orient's League One status. New boss Geraint Williams, who has recorded back-to-back wins twice in his short spell in charge, wants to build on Tuesday night's result at Carlisle, as O's look to give themselves a little more breathing space.

Tuesday's win lifted Orient into 17th position and four points clear of the drop zone, although they have played more games than all of their rivals, but midfield star Sean Thornton is convinced Orient will stay up.

Thornton has been in impressive form of late and played a leading role in the victory at Carlisle on Tuesday, as well as scoring Orient's last-gasp winner against Brighton at the weekend.

The midfielder believes that new manager Williams has instilled the belief back into the side, as they head into the final 10 games that will make or break their survival bid.

Thornton could not have chosen a more important time to score his first goal of the season, a wonderful curling effort from the edge of the area, to give Orient maximum points against relegation rivals Brighton at the weekend, and he said afterwards: "Since the new manager has come in, he has got the confidence back in the team and all the lads are sticking together now.

"Hopefully, we will stick together to the end of the season," added Thornton, who is keen to play a major role in the relegation battle.

"It has been a frustrating season for me and I went away to Shrewsbury early on. But I put my head down for a month and ended up playing six or seven games and it shows that if you work hard and believe in your ability, it will come through."

Delighted with his goal, Thornton said: "I would have taken a tap-in at that stage, but it's nice to get a decent goal.

"We just had to hold on for the last few minutes and be professional, and we did. It wasn't going to be a flowing game of football, but we got the three points and that's the most important thing. It was a massive victory," said the Irishman.