MARTIN LING was delighted with his side's defensive display after they ground out a 0-0 draw at Doncaster on Saturday.

The O's kept a clean sheet on their travels for the first time this season and their manager believes the point gained could be a springboard onto better things.

He said: "It wasn't the purest footballing display, but this was probably the most pleasing performance of the season because we going to need a few more like that to get out of the trouble we're in.

"We talked before the game of the need for our offensive players to dig in and help the defensive minded ones. Everyone's put in a good solid performance today - people were chucking their bodies in the way of shots and it reminded me of a few occasions last year when we ground out results.

"Everyone went out there with the attitude that we were going to make it hard for the other team to beat us and that's what we need at the moment.

"It's the first clean sheet away from home and it's our second point - so it's certainly a step in the right direction again."

Ling lavished praise on his central midfield pair, saying their work took much of the heat off his under-fire defence.

"Donny Barnard and Adam Chambers are in the team as ball winners," he added. "It is their job to get the ball back and I thought they made as many tackles as anyone on the pitch today.

"I felt we just edged the first half in terms of chances and we had to play more on the breakaway after half time.

"They had a lot of possession in our half during the second half so on the balance of play I think a draw was the fair result."

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