IT could have been worse for Lee Bradbury. Just ask Arsene Wenger or Nigel Adkins.

On a day when shipping leads was a recurring theme, Bradbury got that sinking feeling for the first time in his brief managerial career.

There was an element of déjà vu as Dean Cox’s opportunist effort earned Leyton Orient an unlikely share of the spoils and robbed Cherries of a fourth successive win.

The diminutive winger popped up to equalise with virtually the last kick of the 90 minutes as the Os won the right to be crowned Cherries’ official seasonal nemesis.

Just 11 weeks previously, Bradbury had been an unused substitute when the Londoners had staged a similarly dramatic smash and grab at Brisbane Road.

Bradbury must ensure his players do not look back in anger, even though the four points frittered against the Os could prove crucial in the final reckoning.

While lapses in concentration and profligacy stalk the best teams, what will count now is how Bradbury’s men react over the closing weeks of an already memorable campaign.

“I don’t like this feeling,” said Bradbury, who has yet to taste defeat in his five-match tenure. “It almost feels as if we did lose.

“It was a sucker-punch at the end. I thought we had done more than enough to deserve the three points.

“These things even themselves out in the end. I thought their goal was a little fortunate, similar to our first one against Swindon which looped over the goalkeeper.

“We’re still on an unbeaten run and are still doing well so we have got to take the positives. We are just disappointed we didn’t finish them off when we had the chances.”

In truth, Cherries’ luck ran out as the sands of time finally caught up with them following two rather fortuitous victories over Plymouth and Swindon, a point not lost on Bradbury.

“It was almost a reverse of the Plymouth game,” conceded the Cherries boss. “We were on the receiving end of it. We had a few good chances and their goalkeeper made a few good saves. I thought their goal was lucky so we can’t be too down-hearted about it.”

Since taking the reins just three weeks ago, Bradbury’s feet have hardly touched the ground, a punishing schedule leaving him with little time to reflect.

Concerned some members of his squad had looked slightly jaded during the midweek win over Swindon, Bradbury scaled down training towards the end of the week.

And although fatigue may again have set in as Cherries took their eye off the ball late on, there was little they could have done to stop Cox’s leveller.

Television replays suggested the ex-Brighton man knew exactly what he was doing when he connected with Stephen Dawson’s cross and lofted the ball over a stranded Shwan Jalal.

Although Cox was ribbed by his disbelieving team-mates, the 23-year-old was adamant his sixth goal of the season had been a deliberate attempt rather than an intended assist.

“He is capable of the unexpected,” said Os boss Russell Slade. “He always looks likely to nick you a goal. I’ve seen a replay and he definitely meant it.”

Having taken the lead through Michael Symes in the first half, Cherries and the Dean Court faithful were in dreamland.

Symes’s goal, coupled with news Bristol Rovers had nudged ahead against Brighton, prompted a chorus from jubilant home supporters of “top of the league, we’re having a laugh!”.

But while the Seagulls hit four in an emphatic reply, Cherries were unable to build on Symes’s excellent 39th-minute opener and paid a heavy price.

The striker, in arguably his most accomplished all-round display in a Cherries shirt, showed superb composure as he curled a delightful right-foot shot past Os goalkeeper Jamie Jones.

Fashioning an opportunity with all his own work, Symes created the opening after suckering Elliott Omozusi with a clever turn just over the halfway line.

Had it not been for Jones, Cherries could have been out of sight within the first nine minutes, the stopper saving twice from Liam Feeney and once from Anton Robinson.

But with too many passes going astray, Cherries were unable to find any fluency as the contest disintegrated into a festival of unforced errors. Both defences broke down under the blandest interrogation and there would have been more goals if the strikers had been sharper.

Cherries were caught napping at the start of the second half when Jonathan Tehoue raced clear, only for Jalal’s splendid save to keep out his effort.

And Danny Ings was culpable for the hosts when, having rounded Terrell Forbes with an audacious piece of skill, the teenager fired too close to Jones, allowing the goalkeeper to divert his shot past the post.

Three years ago tomorrow, Cherries were deducted 10 points for going into administration. They finished the season with 48 points and were relegated. In their first season back in League One, they have amassed 50 points and still have 17 games to play.

See, it has been worse.