James Brophy says Leyton Orient “found it difficult” to play against Macclesfield Town’s defensive tactics on Saturday.

The Silkmen’s resistance had been broken by Brophy in the 75th minute but only after the O’s had continuously struggled to break through their rigid back line throughout the game.

Then, having not looked like an attacking threat for the entire 90 minutes, Macclesfield snatched an equaliser in injury time to put a massive dampener on what would have been a hard-fought win.

Speaking after the game, Brophy said: “I think this is probably the first time a team has come up and set up to frustrate us, to defend against us, and maybe not play their game plan so much. I think we found it difficult at times to deal with that, to play our usual way, the way we found success in the last few games.

“We managed to break them down quite well at times, we created chances, but obviously it’s frustrating to then lean back and sit on that lead rather than go for that second and kill the game off.

“We were very used to that last year in terms of having to break teams down and be patient. We were today up until we scored but then we sat back on our lead and maybe wanted the game over before it was over.”

The 25-year-old has filled in at left-back at times this season when Joe Widdowson has been injured, but even with the regular back from injury, Brophy’s performances have kept him in the role, and it’s one that he is enjoying.

He said: “I’ve played there before. Maybe not so much for us but I don’t mind it. I think the pros, in terms of my game there, I get to face the goal when I receive the ball, I get to drive out and bring us up the pitch.

“I think as a team we’ve been playing positively recently and we just need to continue to look forward, take each game as it comes and try and finish as high as we can.”