RUSSELL Slade is targeting back-to-back home wins after a losing start as Albion’s manager.

The new boss is unruffled by Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at relegation rivals Leyton Orient, which leaves the Seagulls four points adrift of League One safety.

Southend visit Withdean tomorrow night, followed by Slade’s old club Yeovil on Saturday.

“I knew it was going to be a challenge the moment I walked through the door,” he said. “Nothing has changed just because I’ve lost the first game.

“Our fate was never going to be decided at Orient in my opinion. It’s a bitter pill to swallow and it’s a setback but there are still 39 points to play for and if we can take six points from the next two games then it changes it all around.

“We are massively disappointed with the result because we got off to such a good start but, in terms of application, the players put a shift in.

“Yes, there are things we can do better, yes we had five new players in and of course we made mistakes but there were some encouraging signs.”

Slade felt referee Richard Beeby’s pivotal penalty award against early goalscorer Matt Heath in first-half stoppage time was influenced by Al Bangura escaping with a yellow card seconds earlier, when the Orient fans were baying for red.

Heath was penalised for holding Simon Church after Bangura led with his arm in an aerial challenge with Charlie Daniels.

“It was certainly late but I didn’t think he (Bangura) caught him on the head,” Slade said. “Certainly he caught him from the throat below.

“Maybe he was fortunate with that one, because it was a late challenge, but it doesn’t even it up really to give a penalty when the player is going nowhere. I don't really think Matty had his arms wrapped around him.”

Sean Thornton curled Orient’s winner two minutes from time to ruin the day for Albion’s 2,000 travelling supporters.

Slade, impressed by their backing, said: “It’s a proper football club. That was absolutely amazing. They were terrific all afternoon, I can’t thank them enough.

“I’m just sorry I couldn’t get the right result for them so that they went back home with a smile on their faces.”

Dean Cox is available after suspension tomorrow night and Slade is hopeful that Glenn Murray (hernia) will be involved either against Southend or Yeovil.