Ross Embleton felt that Leyton Orient’s performance against Bristol Rovers in the Leasing.com Trophy deserved progression to the next round.

Orient managed to record a 1-1 draw in normal time against the League One side thanks to Lee Angol’s equaliser, but they were eliminated 4-2 on penalties after misses from Josh Wright and Ruel Sotiriou.

However, it much a much-improved display from the O’s after defeats to Forest Green Rovers and Scunthorpe United in the league, and the interim head coach felt there were more positives to take out of the game than negatives.

Speaking to the club website after the game, he said: “My message to the boys was that whatever happens, whether it’s elation and enjoyment after the penalty shootout or it’s disappointment at the fact of us not getting through, please remember the quality of the performance and the things that we’ve spoken about in the last week to 10 days and how you’ve gone out and delivered that tonight. I’m delighted in the way that we performed.”

It’s now a quick turnaround for the O’s as they travel to Oldham Athletic in the league this Saturday, and Embleton says a number of the performances last night have given him a selection headache for the game.

He said: “We probably haven’t been in that position for a while now. We had a fairly fit and healthy squad at the start of the season and there was a lot of competition for places, but I think in recent times it hasn’t been quite as much of that.

“It’s going to be difficult. I looked around at the squad even yesterday selecting the squad to travel today and there were one or two players that weren’t with us this evening. It’s difficult but I think I’d much rather be in that position than scratching my head as to what team I was going to put out there.”