Caldwell takes positives despite Orient loss

Gary Caldwell's side slipped to one place above the relegation zone

Gary Caldwell says there is lots to be positive about despite his Exeter City side's 2-1 loss at Leyton Orient.

The Grecians led 1-0 until the final part of the game when a defensive error let in Idris El Mizouni to equalise before Tyreeq Bakinson got the winner with Exeter defender Jack Fitzwater off the field after receiving treatment.

The defeat ended a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions and was just Exeter's second League One loss since the end of September.

"We did so many things right in that game, we had the game in the palm of our hand and I think we gave it away rather than Orient won it," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"They brought a lot of quality off the bench, they went really attacking and I still felt we were comfortable.

"It was a mistake, and then having to deal with a long ball after our centre-half gets elbowed in the face is a crazy rule, it should be a foul.

"So the two goals were hugely disappointing, but once we get over the emotion and the feeling, we'll look at 74 minutes of really good play and really positive signs from the team that we have to build into next week."

He added: "Our goals [conceded] were mistakes where we've played in areas that we knew we couldn't play [in] because they're dangerous when you do that.

"The second goal is a foul - Fitzy shouldn't be off the pitch because it should be a foul and we should be able to clear it up the pitch.

"Two big moments that were really disappointing - one our own doing, the second one for me it's a foul - and we have to learn from that."

Jayden Wareham's fourth goal in five games had given Exeter City a first-half lead

The loss meant City slipped to 20th in League One, two points above the relegation places.

But the congested nature of the league table means Exeter are just nine points off the play-off spots.

"We've just been on a brilliant run, the league is still extremely tight," added Caldwell. "Do we want to be higher? Yes. But it's going to be like this all season.

"The league's going to be tight all season and a couple of wins can put you up and for me that can sometimes give you a false sense of security at mid-table.

"Over the years we've been high, I think we've dropped into the bottom four for one week in my whole time at this football club.

"We reacted incredibly well to that and we got out of it and stayed out of it.

"That's the situation. If anyone thinks that we're going to be sitting comfortable in the top half of this league, then they need to look at what the league is.

"The league is incredibly strong this year. The teams and the finances in this league, the squads, you just look at what they [Orient] brought off the bench.

"We've got academy players on the bench. It's fantastic they're getting opportunities but the strength and the power they [Orient] brought on the pitch, that's the reality.

"We have to keep fighting that fight and support the players and help them get better from these situations."