Justin Edinburgh said that it was a “point gained” rather than two dropped after Leyton Orient conceded on the brink of half-time to draw 1-1 away at Hartlepool United.

Jobi McAnuff had given the O’s a 22nd minute lead when he finished from Matt Harrold’s lay-off, but Pools equalised with just seconds of the opening period remaining.

Speaking to the club’s website, Edinburgh said: “I also think that on the road any point is valuable. I think it was a tough encounter, very scrappy, conditions were not great, but I definitely look at it as a point gained today.”

Orient looked to be heading into the break with a one-goal lead, but Nicke Kabamba’s goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time pulled Hartlepool level, and Edinburgh was disapproving of his side’s game management throughout the match.

He said: “I think that would be a disappointment today, our game management. At times when we were in good positions, had the team on the back foot but one or two times we got caught on the counter attack today which is very unlike us. The goal was a bit like that, a bit scrappy but with five or 10 seconds to go we’ve got to be seeing that out.”

The O’s could have been in trouble in the second half as Hartlepool were awarded a penalty when Luke James was bundled over by Joe Widdowson, but Dean Brill produced an excellent save to keep the scores level, and his boss was full of praise for him.

He said: “I haven’t seen it [the foul], obviously from where I was it was very difficult to see but Dean, with the form he’s in, he’s earnt us the point today with a great save.

“Barring that, though, he’s not had a lot else to do, he’s saved a penalty and picked the ball out of the back of the net but other than that, the majority of the play, I believe, was in their final third.”

The away side had plenty of chances to win the game late on but were denied by some resolute defending from the hosts, and Edinburgh praised the way the opposition dealt with his side.

He said: “They got some good blocks in today, one or two of them looked like they were going to be nestling in the back of the net. It wasn’t to be but I liked the character of the performance rather than the play.”

Orient will look to extend their advantage at the top of the National League when they host Maidenhead United at the Breyer Group Stadium on Saturday, February 16.