THE New Year began in unconvincing fashion for the O's, but one man feeling good about 2008 is Stuart Nelson. The big keeper produced some excellent saves to earn Orient a point against Gillingham, and reckons the team aren't too far away from top form. He spoke to leytonorient.com after the game.

Stuart, another 0-0 draw, what did you make of it?

"I thought we knocked on the door. We had a few chances, they had a few chances, but like the last time we played here, we couldn't quite break them down. It's a solid place to start, having a clean sheet at home, but the downside is that we haven't won over Christmas. If this result happened in two weeks' time it wouldn't seem so bad, but for us, we want to get a result and we want to push on up the league, we don't want to start slipping."

The attack did look a bit more potent, with young Andy Barcham up there?

"I think Barch was excellent, he didn't stop running, and that's what you need for your team. He's worked his socks off up with Boydy and I thought they linked up very well, they both looked good. I thought all the boys did well, we were solid at the back and it pushed on through the team. That's what we haven't always had this season, as our goal difference shows."

Our lack of goals must be a worry though?

"Well, if we scored loads of goals that would help our goal difference too, but we've got a good base to work from. If you don't concede then you only need to nick one at the other end, and you can be fairly confident that you're going to go on and win the game from there. That's what we've started to build here."

Overall though, you must be a bit disappointed with how the festive programme has panned out?

"I think we're disappointed with the results, but pleased with how we've played. We had a blip on Boxing Day but the rest were very solid performances. A goal here and there and we could have nine points, that's how close it's been. Hartlepool's goal came from a throw they shouldn't have had, we've had the ball in the net here, so it's a fine line."

Gillingham did have a few good chances as well though - you must have been pleased with those saves?

"Everyone's going to get chances. When we're banging on the door at home they're always going to get a few breaks at the other end, and it's up to me to stand up to that task, and I've done that. Maybe I'll get the credit for those saves but it's down to all of us, that clean sheet. It's a team game."

Are you confident of keeping your place then, when Glenn Morris is fit?

"I didn't think I was playing badly before, I just made a couple of mistakes, but the rest of my game was good. That's why I had to keep the faith when I was out of the team, knowing that I was always playing well, I just had to cut out the mistakes. You're never going to cut them out completely, because keepers make mistakes all the time - Peter Cech's just made a couple, and he's the best keeper in the country.

"They happen, I think I made three in those 19 games, and it was three strikes and you're out. That's how it is, that's how it is here, so you have to get your head down and get on with it. This is my second spell in the team and I'm not going to come out of it again. I've stamped my authority on it, kept two clean sheets in four games - that'll do for me."

Stuart Nelson was talking to Si Hawkins

LEYTON ORIENT	MATCH STATS	GILLINGHAM
0	Goals	0
5	Shots On Target	5
2	Blocked Shots	1
7	Shots Off Target	10
9	Fouls Won	7
8 (1 handball)	Fouls Conceded	10 (1 handball)
0	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
12	Corners	7
3	Offsides	2
NELSON	KEEPER STATS	ROYCE
5	Saves	5
2	Catches	0
1	Punches	1
1	Drops	0

ANDY BARCHAM	HEAD-2-HEAD	DELROY FACEY
0	Goals	0
2	Shots	1
3	Tackles Won	0
2	Headers Won	10
12	Total Passes	8
91.6%	Completed Passes	87.5%
1	Fouls Won	0
0	Fouls Conceded	0