Leyton Orient boss Ian Hendon played down his sides winning run at the start of the season with the former West Ham coach highlighting the importance of the next game. Orient who are the only side in the Football League with a 100% record travel to face Exeter City tomorrow afternoon after exiting the JPT in a 2-1 defeat to Luton in midweek.

Hendon spoke to leytonorient.com today stating that “the longer the run goes the tougher it is going to get. We are taking it 1 game at a time and we are not worried about the undefeated run. All about the next game, beating our opponents”. The O’s are hoping to bounce back from their defeat in midweek but face no distractions with cup competitions after losing in the first round of the Carling Cup earlier in August.

Hendon and O’s midfielder Dean Cox were named Manager and Player of the months for August but the O’s manager was quick to praise the whole club. Speaking to leytonorient.com “It is more of a team award than a personal one. There has been a lot of work gone in pre season from everybody at the football club not just me, everybody behind the scenes, of course the players and the magnificent support from supporters, all in all a team award”.

Despite the defeat to Luton, Hendon stated to leytonorient.com “you are always disappointed when you lose a game but very encouraged”. Orient included 5 debutants in the match with on loan defender Joe Maguire playing his first match after joining on loan from Liverpool. Maguire had an impressive debut at centre half and stated to leytonorient.com “I was made up to get my debut but the win is more important”

Orient were active on deadline adding midfielder Jack Payne from Peterborough, a man Hendon had been chasing all summer. Hendon stated “it has been a long old chase, Jack all along said he wanted to come to the club, just been about getting a agreement with Peterborough but finally done on Tuesday and pleased to have him on board”.

Payne who signed too late to be involved at Luton knows that he faces a task to force his way into the O’s side. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it is a very good squad, saw it in the summer and look how they have started”. The former Posh midfielder added “you can tell squad are all together, injuries aside we will absolutely fine this year”  but Payne knows that when his chance comes he has to take it.

Exeter go into tomorrow’s clash on the back of a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth in the JPT on Tuesday thanks to goals from Ryan Harley and Alex Nicholls. Paul Tisdale was happy with his sides progression to the next round and stated to exetercityfc.com that “we prepared with a view to winning the game, just like any other game. We had a really good half an hour”. Tisdale added “we played a very considered, pragmatic style of football but there were some good performances out there”.

Tisdale is hoping for his side to improve their league form with only 7 points from 5 games. 2 victories, at home to Yeovil on the opening day and a 2-1 victory at Dagenham & Redbridge was followed up with a home 0-0 draw with York. The Greicians went down 2-1 at AFC Wimbledon last week but Tisdale is hoping for some improvement tomorrow.

Exeter are the prime example of keeping faith with a manager, in a climate of increasing managerial appointments. Tisdale is the second longest serving manager in the football league but stated to BBC Sport that “we’ve not been in this situation for five years”. Tisdale extended Clinton Morrison’s contract on deadline day and stated “we have a really good front line here, a number of options. I can make substitutions and we can ride injuries as we have a number of bodies to able to continue the same way”.

Tisdale is aware of the threat that Orient possess tomorrow speaking to exeterexpressandecho.com he stated “they have a good group of talented players that appear to be well organised”. He added “I’m sure they’ll be confident, any team that has won 5 out of 5 will be, it will be a test for us, which we are looking forward to”. Despite facing Sunderland and Swindon, Tisdale stated “they’re all different challenges and this is another challenge, but any team that has won 5 out of 5 must be treated with a little more respect”.

Hendon spoke to leytonorient.com about Exeter and stated that “they are a good football side and he (Tisdale) likes to shuffle the pack so you are never sure what you are going to come up against team wise”. The O’s boss knows his side have the ability to bounce back after defeat in cup competitions beating Dagenham 3-1 away after a 2-1 defeat to MK Dons. But Hendon added “they are all tough games in this league and we will see how we go on Saturday but we have focused since Tuesday on Exeter and that is all that matters”

Team News

Joel Grant is missing for the home side as he is away on International duty whilst Will Hoskins is out with a knock. The Grecians could have Aaron Davies, Christian Ribeiro and Tom Nichols back fit for tomorrow clash.

The O’s rested Jay Simpson, Paul McCallum and Dean Cox on Tuesday and all 3 are set o return to the starting 11. Hendon has named the same starting 11 in all 5 league matches but Alex Ciask is away with Austraila while Mathieu Baudry is touch and go. Hendon did reveal that Sean Clohessy, Fraiser Shaw, Bradley Pritchard and Sammy Moore have been ill this week but he hopes they are over the worst. Alan Dunne also missed the trip to Luton in midweek.

Head to Head – Exeter 27, Draw 25, Orient 33

Last Meeting – 09/04/2012 – Exeter 3-0 Leyton Orient

• Orient have lost their last 2 trips to Exeter
• The O’s have not won in the last 5 meetings at St James Park
• Their last win was back in 2001, in a 3-2 win

Prediction – Exeter 1-3 Leyton Orient

Despite defeat in midweek, with Simpson, Cox and McCallum returning to the starting line up it will Orient impetus in attack. With Charlie Grainger set to continue in goal in Ciask’ absence, I think Exeter will try and exploit the inexperienced man. The Grecians will make it difficult for the O’s but think Hendon men will have enough to overcome the obstacle.

Tisdale article http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Exeter-City-v-Leyton-Orient-Match-preview/story-27724537-detail/story.html

BBC Sport: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34151794

Maguire: http://www.leytonorient.com/news/article/liverpool-loanee-maguire-on-os-debut-2666593.aspx