Josh Coulson praised Leyton Orient’s character and has compared the current O’s squad to the Cambridge United side which gained promotion to League Two four years ago.

The defender was a part of the Cambridge team which won promotion via the National League Play Offs back in May 2014 after a 2-1 win over Gateshead, with the 29-year-old playing the full 90 minutes during the final at Wembley.

Coulson left his boyhood club to move to East London, initially on loan, in July 2017, a move which became permanent in January and the defender has proven himself to be a key member of the O’s side since then.

The defender has forged an impressive partnership with Marvin Ekpiteta at the back this campaign, with the duo’s performances playing an influential role in Orient’s unbeaten start to the season.

Things are certainly ticking over nicely for the O’s as they try to push for promotion and Coulson praised the character as well as the team spirit in the dressing room after Saturday’s win over Barnet.

Coulson said: “I keep saying it but when I got promoted with Cambridge, the squad was very similar. We went 11 unbeaten and then we kicked on and went up through the play offs. I think the character is big and the dressing room is more together.

“I’ve never been in a changing room like this and it’s brilliant. Every day is enjoyable. We work hard and we back each other to perform. The strength in depth shows as well. The three lads who came on today were all different class.

“James Alabi’s come on and absolutely ruined them. He just needed a goal bless him. Imagine him coming on when you’re tired? I wouldn’t want that.

“The character we’ve shown is brilliant and the boys are so together. It’s a great dressing room. We know we can score late goals and I think teams know that as well now but they can’t stop it.”

Coulson got off the mark for the season when he scored Orient’s opener in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Barnet.

The 29-year-old was left with a simple finish after being smartly found by Charlie Lee’s header back across goal in the eleventh minute from Jobi McAnuff’s free-kick.

That strike was Coulson’s first since the 3-3 draw with Gateshead back in February and the centre-back was delighted to get his name back on the score-sheet.

He said: “It’s about time! 11 games it’s taken me but it was a great header back from Charlie and I could read that like a book. They put a little man on Charlie and I don’t reckon they thought he could jump that high. So I knew where it was coming and it was just a matter of putting it in the net.”