ORIENT'S new team captain Stephen Purches celebrated his appointment with an assist on Wednesday night, as his cross set up Efe Echanomi for a memorable goal against Spurs. Stephen spoke to leytonorient.com after the game.

A 4-2 defeat against a Premiership outfit - what's your verdict on that performance?

"It was a good workout. You could see that they were really sharp and you can only learn from things like that. Compared to the West Ham game it was played at a completely different pace and I thought, in patches, we looked good.

"They're Premiership players and they're expected to win really. They kept the ball and I think they just upped it when they wanted to, and they put away the chances they got. But we worked hard and we matched them for most of the first half, we got a couple of goals and looked pretty decent."

Did the penalty change the game?

"I think so. From where we were it didn't look like a penalty but it's probably been given because he took everything, ball and man. It did make a difference as I think it gave them a bit of impetus to step it up after that."

It was your cross for Efe's goal - how chuffed were you with that one?

"It was good, in fairness I think it was probably the goal of the game, there were a lot of passes that led up to it and a great finish. The nice thing was that we kept going to the end - a lot of teams might have collapsed after conceding a few but coming back with another goal was a nice way to finish."

Do you feel that the team has 'gelled' properly now?

"I think it's improving from game to game. Being out in Ibiza got everyone together, and we already look a decent team even with so many new lads in there. We're doing okay so far, and hopefully come the first game of the season we'll be ready."

You've been made team captain today - were you expecting it?

"You don't take anything for granted. Obviously I was out in Ibiza and was given the armband for a few games there, and that was nice. Now the gaffer has pulled me aside and told me and I'm over the moon about it. It's an amazing honour for me, and a huge bonus having come to a club that you've loved since you were a kid."

So how does that differ from Alton Thelwell's role as club captain?

"Every team has this sort of thing now. Basically, on the pitch, that's up to me, unless I'm not playing, then Alton takes over. Off the pitch, Alton is in charge. He deals with all the bits and bobs there - things like fines!"

Stephen Purches was talking to Si Hawkins

LEYTON ORIENT	MATCH STATS	TOTTENHAM
2	Goals	4
2	Shots On Target	8
1	Blocked Shots	2
2	Shots Off Target	4
15	Fouls Won	13
13	Fouls Conceded	15
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
2	Corners	6
0	Offsides	5

NELSON	KEEPER STATS	ROBINSON / CERNY
4	Saves	0 / 0
1	Catches	1 / 1
0	Punches	0
0	Drops	0

ADAM BOYD (78 mins)	HEAD-2-HEAD	D BERBATOV (45 mins)
1	Goals	0
1	Shots	3
3	Headers won	1
0	Crosses	1
22	Total Passes	15
68.1%	Completed Passes	73.3%
0	Fouls Won	0
1	Fouls Conceded	0