Leyton Orient manager Ian Hendon is hoping is side find their ruthless streak as they host Oxford United tomorrow. The U’s sit third in the table ahead of the clash tomorrow with Hendon keen to pick up the three points. Orient lost 3-2 away at Crawley last weekend despite going 1-0 ahead in the opening 10 minutes.

Despite recent form, Hendon stated to leytonorient.com earlier today that “The results haven’t been there but I think the performances have still been good on the whole”. It has been the same old story for the East London club in recent weeks with them dominating periods in games but failing to put their chances away.

Hendon understands the importance of being good at both ends of the pitch, “we will keep creating chances, but we can’t give teams three goals and expect to win. They didn’t have to really work that hard to break us down and it is something we must stop”

• Orient are without a clean sheet since August, a run of eight games
• Orient have only picked up 6 points from the last 21 available

Orient striker Jay Simpson netted another 2 on Saturday taking his tally to 9 in 12 for the campaign, a ratio he is keen to continue. Speaking to leytonorient.com today he stated “we want games to come thick and fast, after a loss you want to play another game to put it right”. But despite their recent indifference form Simpson highlighted that “the league is really tight, even though we are only 12 games in, we are only 2 points off the top 3 which is not a bad position to be in. Everybody would love top 3 and hopefully Saturday we can get a win and be back up there”

Hendon will be hoping his side build on their very good home form which has seen them pick up 13 points from a possible 18, losing only once but face an Oxford side who come in the game on the back of 4 wins in all competitions. Hendon stated “Oxford are a good side, well organised and play 4-4-2 which they have been very good at. We are in for another tough game but we are at home and have a good record so we’re looking forward to it”.

Oxford manager Michael Appleton is hoping his side come through two tough away trips to keep pushing on in League 2. The former Pompey manager has seen his side only lose once in the league this term and have won their last 4 in all competitions. Oxford beat Wimbledon last weekend thanks to a goal from George Baldock to complete a fine week for the U’s who beat fierce rivals Swindon in the Johnstone Paint Trophy.

Oxford face Leyton Orient tomorrow before a trip south to face League Leaders Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night. Appleton knows the importance of taking points off of teams around you. Speaking U’s Player yesterday he stated “If you do get the win, it is good think as the teams around you can’t take the three points aswell”.

Tomorrow’s meeting between the sides will be the first clash since the famous 2006 last game of the season showdown where Orient sealed promotion in turn relegating Oxford to the fifth tier. Oxford have already sold out their allocation for the meeting with Appleton stating “there is a positive vibe around the place, momentum is building, it will be a tough tough game, against a side who obviously started the season well as well as we have, but one we are looking forward to”.

• Oxford taken 11 points from last 15 available
• Only lost 2 games all season – only league defeat came in a 1-0 defeat away at Northampton
• Have won 3 of their last 4 away from home
• All 3 away games they have scored first, they have won
• Taken 11 points on their travels this term
• Man to Watch – Kemar Roofe – top scorer with 5 league goals

Oxford midfielder Callum O’Dowda recently arrived back from International duty with Ireland and understands the importance of the coming week for his side. Speaking to U’s player yesterday, “it is a massive game, it’s a long weekend, Plymouth on Tuesday, think if we can get two results there we will show people in this division what we are really contending for”. He added “Obviously 6 points would send a message to all teams in League 2″. 

Despite traveling away from home, Appleton sees this suiting his side, “With them being at home aswell, think that will suit us, after a tough period of games the fact we have the opportunity to go away the opposition have got to come at us”. However, Appleton is still mindful of the threat the Orient possess, “they have kept a good nucleus of the group they had last year, they are a dangerous side, they have a lot of players that have played at a higher level, we are aware they are going to be very difficult to beat”.

Team News

Orient will be without Alan Dunne who serves a one match suspension after he sending off last weekend at Crawley. The only long term absentee remains Paul McCallum while the O’s are set to welcome back captain Mathieu Baudry who missed the defeat at Crawley due to a head injury. John Marquis is pushing for  a starting berth after impressing at Crawley off the bench.

Oxford can welcome back Danny Hylton from suspension and Callum O’Dowda from international duty as Appleton looks set to face a selection dilemma.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 10, Draw 13, Oxford 13

Last Meeting – 06/05/06 – Oxford 2-3 Leyton Orient

• Orient have only lost 1  of last 6 meetings between sides
• Oxford last won at Brisbane Road in 2002, in a 2-1 win

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-2 Oxford United

There will be goals tomorrow, with Orient failing to keep clean sheets, the U’s will score at Brisbane Road tomorrow. The question is will Orient take their chances this week or will they be left to rue them once more?