ORIENT manager Martin Ling is desperate to end Orient's sequence of four consecutive defeats when they travel to Oldham on Saturday.

The O's have seen their play-off dream disappear in the last month but their boss is keen to end the season on a high with a healthy league position to show for their efforts.

He said: "We're in a bad run of form, but there are four games to go and we want to finish the season with as many points on the board as we can.

"The play-offs have passed us by, but we still have a chance of a top-half finish and that's the objective.

"We'll go to Oldham looking to put an end to that run - we're not proud of it - and we need to go there in a positive frame of mind.

"I honestly believe we're a better side this year, but that needs to be proven by a top half finish.

"That would be a big enough step forward from finishing 20th last season, but if we continue to drift as we have done, we could end up as low as 17th or 18th.

"I don't want those four games to result in that, and a big step forward would give us something to build on for next year."

Ling believes Orient need to be more assertive when in possession of the ball when they take on the Latics, and he dismissed thoughts that a game between two mid-table sides would be a non-event.

"At the moment, we seem to be retaining possession without looking to go behind people and get at their back four," he continued.

"Sometimes we have three or four passes without moving the ball nearer to their goal. I feel we need to be more positive in possession, but confidence is a funny thing.

"A team that looked so good in the early and middle parts of the season is now lacking confidence, and it needs a couple of players to take the game by the scruff of the neck and show us what they are about.

"Oldham had a poor result last week and they are in a similar position to us. They're in limbo - can't really go up and can't go down - and people might say it's a non-tie.

"But if you look at what I'm saying and what their manager is saying, neither of us see it that way.

"We both want to finish the season with a bang, and like us, they will be looking for a top half finish.

"It's down to myself and Dean Smith to motivate the players and let them know that points are up for grabs.

"There are contracts to play for too, so it's certainly not a non-tie."