Leyton Orient face a tricky trip to early League leaders Morecambe tomorrow with the O’s boss knowing that his side must be hard to play against in order to get a result. Orient bounced back from a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Mansfield last weekend with a 3-1 win in the EFL trophy in midweek.

Hessenthaler rotated his squad giving some of his squad players a chance to impress with plenty doing just that. Speaking ahead of the trip north tomorrow to leytonorient.com “Tuesday was the perfect opportunity for people to play who hadn’t been playing in the team and it has given me plenty of food for thought ahead of Morecambe”.

Paul McCallum bagged a brace against Stevenage to make his season tally to four goals after scoring twice vs Fulham earlier in the campaign. The striker who is showing the form of last season before his injury, with Hessenthaler pleased for the former West Ham trainee. Speaking after Tuesday’s win, Hessenthaler stated to leytonorient.com “it was great for Paul, his fitness levels are getting better and better, he needed that 90 minutes. He worked his socks off, with Paul we need to get the balls in the box, he will head them in and be in the right place”

Along with McCallum, Semedo was pushed into a more attacking position after starting the season at left back. Both Semedo and Harry Cornick caused Stevenage all kinds of problems down the flanks with all three goals scored from crosses into the box. Cornick who has been in impressive form since his loan move from Bournemouth in the summer revealed that Hessenthaler asked them to put crosses in and the strikers would do the rest.

Cornick who can play on either wing was pleased with the overall team performance which gave them their first home win of the season. Speaking post match to leytonorient.com “it was a much better performance, we kept the ball a lot better, we had better shape off the ball and once we had the ball we can play teams off the park”.

Club captain Nicky Hunt also gave high praise to Orient’s attacking players ahead of tomorrow game, speaking to leytonorient.com earlier today “we have got wingers who have got real pace, power, good delivery and the ability to score goals. They are starting to terrorize defenders and there are not a lot of full backs in the league that will want to face them”.

Hunt missed the start of the campaign after suffering an ankle injury at the end of pre season but is happy to have regained his place in the side. Hunt stated that his side needed the result on Tuesday to put the defeat to the back of their mind but knows that it will e a tough test tomorrow. “It is a massive game against top of the table Morecambe. They have started the past 4/5 season well well but we have a lot of quality in the squad to go anywhere to get results. We showed that at Grimsby, the squad is more than capable of getting the win but we will take it one game at a time”.

Morecambe’s last five seasons record and positions after six games

One man that Hessenthaler will not be able to call upon is winger Dean Cox who left the club on Thursday after his contract was cancelled. Sean Clohessy and Scott Kashket also left the club in midweek.

Morecambe head into tomorrow’s clash sitting two points clear at the top of League two after four consecutive wins. Last weekend they fought back from 2-0 down away at Accrington to win 3-2 to cement their place at the top. In midweek they suffered a 4-1 defeat at Bury in the EFL trophy where manager Jim Bentley rotated his squad.

• Sit two points above second placed Luton Town
• Five different scorers with Kevin Ellison (2) and Cole Stockton (2) top scorers

Despite the EFl trophy having a mixed reception with its new format amongst clubs, managers and players, Bentley stated that their changes were enforced on them. Speaking post match to morecambefc.com “If you look at it, I work with the players every day and we had a few changes enforced on us, Cole Stockton (tight groin), Conlon (International duty), Barry Roche (dead leg)”.

• Two home league games so far this season – Portsmouth (2-0 W), Blackpool (2-1)
• Five of their Eight games this seasons have seen both teams scored
• Scored 8, Conceded 5

Bentley felt that Tuesday result was bound to come at some point with how much effort his side had put in during recent weeks, “sometimes you find a game where you hit a brick wall. We put in a mammoth amount of energy, commitment against Bournemouth. We went into Accrington afterwards which was a massive ask, with the local derby and the psychology around it” .

• Last home games (most recent first) – LWWDLLW
• Failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 of their last 16 games

However the defeat has not dampened his mood “there have been plenty of positives for us, we don’t want people to be doom and gloom. We have been fantastic in the month of August and we are confident and positive going into Saturday’s game”. He added “Tonight they shared us in all departments, they were sharper, stronger and fresher. They are a league above but credit to them they deserved to win the game”.

After back to back away wins in the league over Accrington and Yeovil, Bentley is hoping the town of Morecambe come and support his top of the table side. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s clash to morecambefc.com “Hopefully they can come out and support us, we are top of the table. A great month first but now we want to start the new month in fine fashion”.

Team News

Leyton Orient could give Callum Kennedy is league debut after winger Sandro Semedo impressed in a more attacking role on Tuesday. Jay Simpson could return to the squad after his recent back injury while Yvan Erichot looks to have recovered from a thigh injury Orient’s major doubt comes with French midfielder Nigel Atangana after he was forced off through injury against Stevenage. Recent siginng Ulrich Nnomo is waiting on International clearance.

Hessenthaler on Morecambe “they have had an excellent start, Jim has been there a while now. His coaching staff have done an excellent job on a tight budget. He is a good man and knows the game, he will have them organised. They have good player here and it will certainly be a tough test”.

Morecame’s deadline day signings Ntumba Massanka and James Jennings are set to be included in the matchday squad after their loan moves from Burnley and Cheltenham. Cole Stockton and Barry Roche looked to have shaken off knocks but Luke Conlon is away on International duty with Northern Ireland U21’s. Midfielder Peter Murphy will be in the squad after coming through unscathed from Tuesday’s defeat at Bury.

Head to Head – Morecambe 0, Draw 0, Leyton Orient 2

Last meeting – Leyton Orient 1-0 Morecame – 19/03/2016

There have only been two meetings between the sides, both last season and finished 1-0 to Leyton Orient

Prediction – Morecambe 2-2 Leyton Orient