John Akinde

Age – 27

Position – Striker

Appearances – 301

Goals – 103

John Akinde the man to watch  for Leyton Orient as they visit the Hive tomorrow afternoon. The O’s will know all too well the threat of Akinde who scored twice in the Bees 3-0 victory over Orient in April.

Akinde has been in stunning form at the start of the season scoring 7 goals in 11 games and netting 3 times in his last 2 games for the Bees. The 6ft 2 striker started his carrer at Ebbslfleet United before signing for Bristol City for £140,000 in 2008. Akinde struggled to make an impression at City where he was loaned 5 times before joining Crawley in 2011 

With the range of clubs, Akinde struggled to find a home and some form of scoring goals. Akinde signed for Barnet in 2014 after a season out of the football league with Alfreton. In his first season, his 33 goals in 49 matches helped fire Barnet back to the football league and the front man has not looked back since.

Akinde was rewarded with a new contract with Bees in the summer, signing a deal till 2019 after netting 24 goals in 48 games last season.

This Season

• Akinde has netted 7 of Barnet’s 10 league goals
• 4 of the 7 goals have been scored at home
• Despite his size, all 7 of his goals have been scored with his feet and inside the box

Akinde terriozes opposition defences with his pace, power and strength and helped him score several goals this season. He likes to run in between the full back and the centre half, with his team mates finding him with a ball over the top.

Orient should know about Akinde’s positioning after netting twice last season:

Akinde’s first at the Hive last season, header between right back Nicky Hunt and CB Peter Ramage

Akinde’s second last season, gambling on a ball forward from midfield.

7 goals this season – 1 penalty vs Portsmouth

vs Accrington

Ball forward, Akinde in the channel 

vs Crawley:

Ball over top, overpowers Crawley’s cb Alex Davey

vs Mansfield: Akinde will drift into wide areas to drive at the opposition center halves

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vs Morecambe on Tuesday – 2 goals in similar positions

First goal on Tuesday, between Right back and center back

Akinde gambling on ball forward, between left back and center back

Akinde’s traditional runs, in between defenders so they are unsure who to mark

The Key for Orient is to stop the supply at source, pressurizing the defenders so that they cannot find the ball long to Akinde. Out of his 7 goals, 4 have been assisted by the defence, stop the supply, it will help to reduce the threat of Akinde.