Dean Cox hails manager Russell Slade for guiding 'little Leyton Orient' to Wembley

 
Passionate: Cox (left) admits he'll be holding back tears when Orient walk out at Wembley
Nik Simon14 May 2014

It is 32 years since Leyton Orient last played in the second tier of English football and it will be an impressive achievement should the club end their exile next week.

Orient were written off at the start of the season but — despite not paying for a player in more than four years — they are now just 90 minutes away from the Championship after beating Peterborough last night to secure a Wembley showdown against Preston or Rotherham.

Much of the credit has gone to Russell Slade and he was acknowledged at the League Manager Association awards on Monday night, when he shared the League One gong with Wolves’ Kenny Jackett. However, Dean Cox — one of the scorers last night — believes that was an injustice to Slade.

“For Russell to get the Manager of the Year award joint with Kenny Jackett I thought was a bit insulting,” said Cox. “He’s had one hell of a budget but we’ve managed to get to Wembley on absolute peanuts.”

Cox believes Orient’s shortfalls in resources are compensated by an unbreakable team spirit. “Never underestimate little Leyton Orient,” said the 26-year-old winger.

“Financially the other teams are better than us but it’s not about money anymore, it’s about character. Some players cost more than others but one player can’t win a game.

“No one expected us to be at Wembley, it was all about Peterborough and [their manager] Darren Ferguson. But we’ve got a lot of character, spirit and a fantastic manager. This team just keep going and going. We didn’t expect to be here at the start of the season. Not a chance.”

Now Orient must overcome one final hurdle. They have not played at Wembley since the 1999 Division Three play-off final so it will be a moment of history for the club. For Cox, it will be one of the most emotional days of his career.

“It will mean the world to me,” said Cox, who opened the scoring at Matchroom Stadium. “I will have to hold back the tears but once the whistle goes, then it’s game time. Hopefully we can get over that line and get ourselves in the Championship.”

Orient will now face the winner of tomorrow night’s tie. Slade’s side have not beaten Preston this season but the Orient boss is not concerned about who they come up against.

“It will be a very strong contest between those two,” said Slade. “It will be a real war of attrition. They’re both strong, physical sides and there was very little in it between them during the first leg.

“We’ve achieved something quite remarkable by getting to Wembley but there’s so much more work to do now. We’re not just going to make up the numbers, we’re going to get to that next level.

“Whatever happens we are still the smallest club in every way, shape and form. But what we do have is a fantastic spirit that will hopefully get us to where we want to be.”

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