ON SATURDAY afternoon Orient became the first side this season to take a point from Elland Road, but were left fuming after a series of controversial refereeing decisions. Captain Stephen Purches spoke to leytonorient.com after the game.

Stephen, looking at the positives first, how pleased are you with that performance?

"From the lads' point of view, we're over the moon with how we dug in. We were down to ten but we still created things, never gave up, and showed great togetherness, which is the only thing you can ask for when's everyone's against you - the ref, the crowd, everyone."

What did you make of the refereeing situation?

"I read on Teletext yesterday that Dennis Wise wasn't happy that this ref was doing the game, and straight away it feels like he's trying to put pressure on him. It felt like that with the way the game went, the decisions that went against us.

"I didn't really see the sending-off so I can't really comment on that, but the penalty, well, that's the softest penalty I've seen, and then there's the goal that wasn't given.

"All in all, there were some big decisions that went against us, but we still hung in there, and obviously we're delighted with a point. We can't ask for any more than we did today, and this won't be a negative in our heads."

It was an amazing ending - where did that spurt of attacking come from?

"In some ways it helped us a lot when they put three up front, because it allowed us to then push forward and there were gaps that we could go and attack. In the last ten minutes I thought our fitness levels were brilliant considering everything we'd already been through, down to ten men. Unfortunately that goal wasn't given, but let's hope it balances itself out and we get something during the season that goes our way."

Can you explain how we can lose 5-0 to Swansea, then - really - win here?

"In regards to the Swansea game, we've all looked at that, and it's a freak result. It happens, and it's very disappointing to lose five goals, but it was freaky how it happened. We had more shots than them, double I think, so coming here we showed what we're about.

"It's one of those things - you want to do well at home but sometimes it's easier said than done. The home fans want to see you scoring within the first ten minutes and that can be difficult, which can put a little bit more pressure on. But hopefully next week we can get three points and carry on up the table."

Stephen Purches was talking to Si Hawkins

LEYTON ORIENT	MATCH STATS	LEEDS UNITED
1	Goals	1
5	Shots On Target	5
4	Blocked Shots	2
6	Shots Off Target	11
11	Fouls Won	7
9 (2 handballs)	Fouls Conceded	11
0	Yellow Cards	1
1	Red Cards	0
5	Corners	3
1	Offsides	0
NELSON	KEEPER STATS	ANKERGREN
3	Saves	4
5	Catches	2
2	Punches	0
0	Drops	1

SEAN THORNTON (32 minutes)	HEAD-2-HEAD	DAVID PRUTTON (77 minutes)
1	Goals	0
2	Shots	2
0	Tackles Won	3
1	Crosses	3
7	Total Passes	24
71.4%	Completed Passes	87.5%
0	Fouls Won	1
2	Fouls Conceded	1