New Leyton Orient manager Mauro Milanese has admitted it is time for the club to stop dreaming and realise the situation the League One strugglers are in. 

Orient had high hopes of promotion this season after their near miss at Wembley in the play-off final in May and making ambitious summer signings such as Jobi McAnuff and Darius Henderson.

But it has all gone wrong on the pitch and Milanese admits it is time to stop dreaming and realise the position the O’s are in, just three points off the bottom of League 1.

“This season we need to think only of the next game,” he said. “There is no time to dream. It’s time to be concrete, solid and realistic. Don’t dream any more. Last season it was the first XI playing and no injuries. The team created chances and scored.

“But it’s not happening this season so we need to be realistic and try to do the best. Of course I’m confident about the lads because they don’t give up and have good spirit.”

Milanese’s first game in charge ended in a predictable 2-0 home defeat to second-placed Preston on Tuesday night.

The visitors opened the scoring after 19 minutes when Callum Robinson tapped in from close range. Orient, to their credit, responded well and were only denied an equaliser by three excellent saves from former O’s goalkeeper Jamie Jones.

But the hosts failed to threaten in the second half and Preston sealed the points when Paul Huntington netted a simple finish.

Milanese said: “I’m not satisfied to lose a game at home. I’d prefer to be a bit lucky and to win. I thought the guys responded very well and the attitude and spirit was very good. I think they played some moments very well and couldn’t see too much difference between the teams despite the table.

“For most of the game I was satisfied with what they were doing but of course we need to be better and push harder because what we’re doing is not enough. Sometimes a little mistake goes against us at this moment and when we create chances we don’t score and that changes the game.”

Italian striker Gianvito Plasmati made his debut for the club as he started the match and the 31-year-old showed a few nice touches and should have scored, but was denied by a brilliant save from Jones.

“For eight months he hasn’t played so we knew he was not fit,” Milanese said. “I tried to add some power up front with Jay Simpson and think this couple can match together very well. Of course he did the maximum he could for this game but he needs to be fitter and play a bit more but his attitude was good.”