Orient boss expects Cook and Rowlands to have positive influence (From This Is Local London)

Leyton Orient boss expects former QPR midfielders Cook and Rowlands to have positive influence on side

9:26am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Latest Sport

Russell Slade believes the experience of Lee Cook and Martin Rowlands will prove invaluable for his young squad this season.

The duo, who joined earlier this season, played significant roles in Leyton Orient’s first league victory of the season at Swindon Town. Cook netted the winner and the pair helped provide the impetus to their surprise win at the County Ground.

Orient boss Slade was delighted with their contribution and thinks they will have a positive influence on their younger team-mates at Brisbane Road.

Slade, whose side host Brentford tonight, said: “I’ve talked about the know how and experience these two will bring to the table and I thought Rowlands in midfield was excellent. He’s only going to get better because he’s still obviously behind in terms of fitness and the same with Lee. The more work that they get and the more game time they get the more they will bring.”

The O’s boss continued: “I think they’ve had a good influence on the players and a good steadying influence.

“There are some inexperienced players in my side that haven’t played in League One with the likes of Anthony Griffiths and Gary Sawyer’s been out of the league for a few seasons. Then I’ve got my young players like Moses Odubajo who is starting to progress and Ryan Allsop in goal, who’s almost like a third choice keeper, so they all need a little bit of encouragement and help and those sorts of players give that.

“I can only see us going one way but that’s me. I’m always positive and normally my teams do that. It would be a surprise if they didn’t. We’ve got too much talent to be struggling down in the bottom four.”

Cook agreed a five-month deal at the League One club but his impressive attacking performance at the weekend is likely to attract interest from other clubs. Rowlands is only with the O’s on a one-month contract and the experienced former Queens Park Rangers midfielder could earn himself an extended stay if he stays fit.

Orient's win over Paulo Di Canio’s side has eased the pressure on Slade and the manager believes his team will climb away from the bottom of the table as the season progresses.

While admitting the victory is merely the start for the O’s, he is convinced that his squad has too much ability to remain at the wrong end of the table.

The former Yeovil Town boss said: “I know people think it must be hard not getting a result after three matches but I’ve been in the game long enough now.

“I know I don’t get the best of starts and I haven’t again this season but I know my team will improve and I’m confident in the group of players that I’ve got. They just needed that little bit of belief and hopefully that goal will turn the corner for them.

“It’s a great result but it’s only a start and we have to recognise it’s only a start. It’s been a tough start with the games we’ve had away from home but we’ve come through that and if we’d have drawn last week and against Swindon that would have been two good results. But we’ve managed to get a win and that’s fantastic.

“It was a false position to a certain extent because we’ve still got a game in hand. We go into that game for free so if we get anything out of that game it will take us up the league table. I think if you’ve played 35 or 36 games then it may not be but certainly after three or four it’s totally false.”