ORIENT skipper John Mackie was delighted with his side's defensive work after they battled to a clean sheet at Doncaster on Saturday.

It was the first time that the Londoners had managed a shut out on the road this season and Mackie hopes it will lead to better things.

The central defender said: "Our downfall this season has been the number of goals we've conceded, so this was the perfect response to our last couple of games.

"We've kept four clean sheets now this year, but in the games we are conceding in, it hasn't been ones and twos but three goals against. Hopefully it's just a mental thing and results like Saturday's will help us get over it.

"We worked very hard on Saturday and it wasn't just the back four and the keeper who put in the work. The front two worked very hard without getting many chances, and the midfield were shattered at the end because they gave everything.

"All round, it was a pleasing point but the most satisfying thing was that we kept a clean sheet."

The O's put in a battling awayday display reminiscent of those from last season and Mackie insisted that a string of similar performances will see them rise away from trouble.

He continued: "Before today we averaged three goals against from our away games this season, so hopefully this is a sign of better things to come.

"If we play with the kind of determination and commitment as we did at Doncaster then we will get our fair share of results.

"The character we showed on Saturday is what will get us out of trouble. It emphasised the resilience in the squad because we had to make a few changes due to injury and everyone knows they will be needed at some point.

"The kids that came in for the cup game in midweek did well, and Donny has come  in today in midfield and done an excellent job.

"Obviously we're going to miss Simmo massively with his injury, but the boys who have got their chance recently have taken it and hopefully it's a step forward."

Orient even had a couple of chances to grab all three points themselves, and although they weren't taken, Mackie said the most important thing was the blank goals against column.

He added: "We didn't score on Saturday, but we are finding the back of the net regularly and it was just our luck that when we did keep a clean sheet we couldn't score ourselves!

"It wasn't to be in front of goal and Conns' one right at the end probably summed it up when he was through but the guy's got back somehow to make a good tackle.

"The most pleasing thing, though, is the hard work throughout and the clean sheet."