Forest Green bounced back from their loss against rivals Cheltenham on the weekend as they narrowly edged past Leyton Orient 2-1 at the Innocent New Lawn.

Goals from Odin Bailey and Matty Stevens were enough to secure all three points for Rovers and move them up to third in League Two.

Mark Cooper believed his side earned the victory despite the game being a fairly open affair.

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, he said: “It felt frustrating at times.

“I think if you look at it over the whole game we deserved to win on chances.”

After a loss against Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon, it was vital that Forest Green put the result behind them and Cooper felt they did just that.

“We’ve got to give credit to the players,” he said. “They bounced back after Saturday.”

The games keep coming thick and fast for Forest Green as they look to climb up the table and Cooper credited his side for how they played despite a congested fixture list.

He said: “I was pleased with the players.

“I thought they showed tremendous application and with the number of games we’re playing it’s difficult to do any real preparation.”

Scott Wagstaff hobbled off for Rovers at half time and Cooper was able to give an update on his current injury list.

“(Kane) Wilson had cramp and I think Wagstaff tweaked his hamstring,” he said. “We’re hoping (Nicky) Cadden will be back and fit for the weekend.”

With a growing injury list, Cooper has had to shift some of his players out of position but he praised their ability to adapt.

He said: “We’re having to put people at wingbacks that aren’t accustomed to it and I thought Odin (Bailey) did it brilliantly.”

Rovers next face Lincoln in the FA Cup First Round, a side that Forest Green have struggled against in recent years but Cooper warned not to write his side off yet.

“Nobody really expects us to get anything,” he admitted. “We have a chance and the players have got a good camaraderie, a good spirit and Lincoln might rest a lot players so we’ll have a go and try and win.”

Rovers travel to Lincoln to face the Imps in the FA Cup on Saturday at 3pm.