Kevin Lisbie hails Leyton Orient team spirit

Leyton Orient striker Kevin Lisbie says strong team spirit has been a key part of their unbeaten start to the season.

The O's have won their opening seven games in League One and are five points clear at the top of the table.

"We do a lot of things together and that is important when you have a small squad," he told BBC London 94.9.

"The first year I came here it was almost individuals trying to play. It didn't work and we almost got relegated because of that."

Lisbie, 34, also believes Orient manager Russell Slade has benefitted from building a squad made up entirely of players he has brought in to Brisbane Road since being appointed in April 2010.

"If you look at our team he has brought in every single player in it," Lisbie added.

"It is massive for a manager to have a team that he has built himself. He understands us and we all trust him as he has brought us in.

"He brings a calmness to us as well. What he says before the games and how he wants us to play is massive.

"We don't try and be direct, but when we attack we go forward with pace. We are a good counter-attacking side, which is something he drills into us."

Meanwhile, Orient assistant manager Kevin Nugent says that having a small squad has led to an ethic of hard work at the club.

"The majority of players have been with us for a fair period last season and that does help," Nugent told BBC London 94.9.

"We have a small squad and people know they are going to get a chance, even if they are not in the team at the moment.

"The whole group, and whole club, is pulling in the right direction and that is encouraging as the players get the best out of each other.

"We have got what we consider to be a group of men."