DEAN COX is making the most of his opportunity to shine at first team level again.

After finding his chances limited at Brighton & Hove Albion in the second half of last season, Cox is loving the new lease of life given to him by a fresh start at Brisbane Road.

He scored his first goal for the club in Saturday's 3-0 win over Exeter City and then followed that up with the opener in Wednesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy triumph over his old club.

His reaction to that strike at Exeter said it all, as he charged over to celebrate with manager Russell Slade, and although his celebration of Wednesday's goal was more subdued, he was neverthless delighted to get on the scoresheet.

"I had a great time at Brighton, fond memories and they live with me," he said. "It went in but I didn't want to give it the big un so to speak.

"Before I came here I had eight months of not playing football, so I've not had the feeling of scoring a goal for a very long time.

"It was very nice to get my first goal against Exeter, and it's two in two now, so long may that continue."

Orient are back in action quickly, with Saturday throwing up a npower League 1 derby at Dagenham & Redbridge, and Cox is expecting a different kind of test.

He continued: "Brighton play football, simple as that. They get the ball down and pass, so Saturday's game against Dagenham will be completely different.

"There'll be long balls, flick-ons, scraps, but hopefully we can play as we did on Wednesday, cut them open and get the right result.

"Jamie Jones and the back four have been in fine form. That platform at the back gives us the opportunity to win the game. We took it on Wednesday and we'll hope to do the same on Saturday."

This interview appeared first as a TV feature on Orient Player. Click here to subscribe or for more info on our premium web service - available from less than 10p per day!