Russell Slade: 'Players were an inspiration in playoff semi-final success'

Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade has described their League One playoff semi-final win over Peterborough United on Tuesday as 'like a new club being born'.

The O's were 2-1 victors at Brisbane Road to record a 3-2 aggregate triumph, although Conor Washington's late goal meant that they would endure a nervy finish.

Slade was clearly overjoyed after a match which he believes that they deserved to win, and feels that Orient's performances this season have awoken the supporters of a "sleepy" third-tier team.

"They were an inspiration tonight," he told Sky Sports News. "Peterborough played their role magnificently and nearly got back in it at the death. We deserved it on the balance of play.

"We are a sleepy East End football team, and it's like a new club has been born tonight. The fans were fantastic, as were the players. It has been a fantastic journey. But we must not get carried away, there is still one game to go."

Orient will face either Rotherham United or Preston North End in the League One playoff final.