A gentle nudge from manager Martin Allen and some extra time on the training ground paved the way for the goal which ended Cheltenham Town's nine-month League One away drought.

Ian Westlake tucked away the 78th-minute winner after a one-two with Barry Hayles – and revealed the double secret behind the goal.

"It was a nice moment," said on-loan Leeds man Westlake. "I like scoring goals – I usually go for 10 a season, have usually averaged about eight, but last year I only got three in the league.

"I haven't been having enough shots – that's what the manager has told me anyway.

"It was a great goal. Barry did superbly and I put it in the corner from a tight angle.

"The manager has been getting the midfielders and strikers in early to do finishing practice, so it's paid off."

He also ended up with scars from the battle – six stitches and a bandage on one hand and a few cuts on the other.

"I got pushed in the back and went flying into the tarmac by the dugout area and landed on both of my hands. I've had stitches in one and the other one is cut as well, but that's part of the game," he said.

In addition, Westlake said a little dig in the match programme was another spur for the Robins.

"There was a bit in there which said we had not had back-to-back wins in the league this season," said Westlake. "I know all players should motivate themselves but it motivated the manager and gave us an extra spark."

The win – achieved after Ashley Vincent was sent off for a second yellow card eight minutes before Westlake's goal – was another triumph for Allen's new 4-3-3 formation.

"It has been very positive for us," said Westlake. "Barry (Hayles) has been fantastic with his hold-up play, Ashley (Vincent) scares them with his pace and Scott (Murray) has terrific skill.

"We have just given Scott a standing ovation in the dressing room as it's his last game and he has been a terrific influence for us in the dressing room and in training.

"The formation pegs teams back and the manager has said he wants us to go out and win games.

"In midfield, it's good for the three of us as we can have one holding and two attacking midfielders, or the other way round.

"It gives us more chance of getting at teams through the middle and all three of us want to get on the ball and pass it.

"Josh (Payne), Aggy (Alex Russell) and me have been working hard on it this week and I enjoy playing in this system."

Westlake's influence has been growing week by week and another inspired display at Brisbane Road showed what a key part of the Robins squad he is becoming.

"It's an enjoyable place to be at the moment," he said. "I am getting to know the players – who wants it to feet, who likes it over the top, who will pass to me first time and who will take a touch.

"I loved it at Ipswich, having come through the ranks, and left for Leeds, but had injury problems in my first season, including a double groin op.

"I played a lot under Dennis Wise, then Gary McAllister came in and had his own ideas, and I haven't been involved, so I've been to Brighton and now here.

"I am really enjoying it, as I am playing every week and the manager seems to have confidence in me. I am here until January 17, then I don't know."

As well as the midfielders and strikers, centre-backs Darren Kenton and Drissa Diallo came out on top in their battle with strikers Adam Boyd and Sam Parkin, while full-backs Andy Gallinagh and Lee Ridley were again solid.

Cheltenham got off to a flyer – four minutes in and Hayles banked the opener, as he took Russell's knock-down and, despite having three defenders around him, got some space and placed his skidding low shot inside a post.

Orient were dangerous from set-pieces, but Cheltenham had their moments on the break.

Murray got free in the box but a split-second delay in his decision to shoot lost the chance, and another run and cross nearly set up Hayles, Tamika Mkandawire clearing for a corner.

After Vincent received a yellow card for a tackle on Adam Chambers before Orient got a 32nd-minute leveller.

Morgan burst down the left edge of the penalty area and went down under Diallo's tackle, with Boyd's penalty just evading Scott Brown's dive.

The start of the second half saw Orient fashion some half-chances, Boyd lobbing wide from 40 yards after Brown scuffed a kick, the striker volleying wide from JJ Melligan's cross and Morgan firing into the side-netting.

It could have gone wrong 20 minutes from time as Vincent went in for a challenge on Melligan with his studs raised. Referee Grant Hegley had little option but to produce a second yellow card, despite Melligan's attempts to save his ex-team-mate.

But the Robins were galvanised and eight minutes later fashioned Westlake's winner.

The final minutes were backs to the wall, as Orient tried to break down a nine-man yellow barrier.

Headers from Chambers and Boyd clipped the top of Brown's bar and Kenton and Diallo typified the effort with their aerial domination.

With three wins in a row and one defeat in six in all competitions, Allen's side are only two points from escaping the bottom four.

They now have the same number of points – 18 – as they had at the same stage last season.

It may be too early to say if they have turned the corner, but things certainly seem to be going the right way.

Leyton Orient (4-4-2): Morris; Purches, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Granville (Jarvis 81); Melligan, Thornton, Chambers, Morgan; Boyd, Parkin. Subs not used: Saah, Jones, Terry, Spence.

Cheltenham (4-3-3): Brown; Gallinagh, Kenton, Diallo, Ridley; Westlake, Russell, Payne (Lindegaard 76); Murray, Hayles (Hammond 81), Vincent. Subs not used: Puddy, Wright, Owusu.