Leyton Orient manager Russell Slade has admitted that it will be "tough" to secure automatic promotion from League One after going down 1-0 to Brentford today.
Marcello Trotta struck the only goal of the game to leave Orient three points behind the Bees and four behind leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, Slade's men have played two games more than their rivals, and the 53-year-old concedes that it will be a big ask for his team to achieve promotion without going through the playoffs.
He told his club's official website: "We were really strong first half. I don't know how we haven't scored. We tried everything.
"Automatic promotion will be tough now but we'll give our all of course."
The Londoners face a trip to Walsall next weekend.
