New Leyton Orient manager Alberto Cavasin is relishing his first home league game against Portsmouth tomorrow afternoon. The 60 year old Italian was appointed on a two year contract last Sunday and took charge of his sides 1-0 EFL Trophy defeat to Southend in midweek.

• Orient sit 17th, on 12 points
• 5 points off the play offs and 3 off the relegation zone

Cavasin who has managed a host of clubs in Serie A, most recently Sampdoria in 2011, jumped at the opportunity to manage in England. Speaking to BBC London on Tuesday night “it was an unexpected surprise, I only knew about the job 48 hours ago. I am very happy with the opportunity, it is a great chance for me. This football is a perfect fit for my ideas”

• League Record – P11 W3 D3 L5 F12 A14
• Form in last 8 – W2 D2 L4 F8 A12
• Form in all competitions – LDLLLDW

Cavasin becomes the ninth man since 2014 to manage Orient for at least one game but was encouraged by his sides performance at Southend, “there were some encouraging signs and we had good intensity throughout the match”. Speaking to leytonorient.com earlier today (Friday), “we played some good football at times and if we can continue to build on that over the coming weeks then we will get back to winning games”.

• Only kept 2 clean sheets in 14 games this season
• Their clean sheet last weekend at Barnet was their first in 8 games
• Only kept 1 clean sheet in 7 games at home this season

Orient are without a win since the 3rd September and will be looking to bounce back tomorrow at home. The O’s have struggled at Brisbane Road this season, losing four of their five league matches  but Cavasin is looking forward to the encounter, “I cannot wait to experience my first home game and have been looking forward to it ever since I arrived”.

• Home Record – P5 W1 D0 L4 F6 A8
• Only Newport (2) and Exeter (0) have taken less points at home than Orient (3)

Orient lost their last home match to Plymouth but after being reduced to nine men early on the home crowd got behind the O’s. Cavasin thanked the Orient fans and staff for the welcomed he has received this week, “I would like to thank the fan for their support on Tuesday and everyone at the club who has made me feel welcome” With a big crowd in E10 expected tomorrow, Cavasin is confident that the home crowd can push his side to a victory, “I know they will be behind us and hope they can help us through what will be a positive result and performance”

Striker Paul McCallum was frustrated that his side could only draw with Barnet last weekend, however was happy that his side stemmed the flow of defeats. McCallum who has seen a settled run in the side is happy to be back alongside Jay Simpson in the Orient attack. The pair started last season very well but after McCallum’s injury in late September, the pair have only now started to form that partnership once more. Speaking earlier to leytonorient.com,  “it is good to be back. I believe that one of us will score every game, we scored goals between us last season when we started off well and we hope to rebuilding that”

• Orient have failed to score in their last 3 games, the first time this has happened since November 2012
• Only scored once in their last 450 minutes of competitive football
• Scored in 9 of their 14 games and 4 of their 7 home matches this season
• Both teams have scored in only 1 of their last 5 matches and 1 of their last 5 home matches

With the appointment of Cavasin, McCallum described it as an “interesting week” but despite the language barrier, the front man stated “you don’t have to speak English to manage, the body language and noises he makes, you know what he means and what he expects. You know as players what a manager should expect”.

• Orient have only conceded 2 of their 14 goals in the first half
• But only Yeovil (14) have conceded more second half goals than Orient (12)
• 7 of those 12 goals have been conceded in the last 15 minutes of matches (76-90)
• No team in league 2 has conceded more, Orient would sit 5th if games ended after 75 minutes
• The O’s have dropped a league high 6 points between 76-90 minutes

McCallum praised the approach of Cavasin and his style of play he is trying to imposed on the O’s, “he wants us to play out from the back and not to be scared of making mistakes. It is important that a manager doesn’t mind that, it is going to happen but as long as he sticks with is and keeps us motivated it will be good”.

• Record scoring first – W3 D2 L0
• Orient have won 13 of their last 15 games scoring first – taking 39 of a possible 45 points
• 42 of their 45 league points collected in 2016 have come when Orient have scored the first goal
• The O’s have only lost 1 of their last 21 scoring first – Exeter (3-1, 16/01/16) – W14 D6 L1

After completing the league double over Portsmouth last season, McCallum is expecting a big test when Pompey arrive tomorrow. McCallum spent a loan spell at Fratton Park back in 2015 and acknowledges that “Portsmouth are a team that will always be going to be pushing for promotion, come the weekend it will be a big test for us, to see how good we really are compared to them. As long as we stick to the game plan and play how we can, we can get some points”.

• Record conceding first – L5
• All four home defeats this season have come when they have conceded first
• Orient have not won their last 16 games when conceding first – W0 D2 L14
• Only have one win in their last 30 game conceding first – 26/12/15 – 3-2 vs Portsmouth

Cavasin echoed McCallum thoughts on Portsmouth, speaking earlier today to leytonorient.com “they have a good squad and having watched a number of their games, we know we are in for a tough challenge but one we feel we can overcome”. It has been a hectic and busy week for the Italian but is hoping his side can build on the work they have put in, “we have a strong squad and it is about bringing out the best of the players on a match day and with type of football we are looking to play, I hope we can achieve plenty of positive results”

Portsmouth arrive in E10 on the back of two consecutive league defeats to Blackpool (3-1) and most recently Doncaster (2-1) last weekend. Pompey conceded two early goals and were unlucky to not pick up a point against Donny but with the club looking firmly at promotion, they will be looking to bounce back tomorrow.

Pompey Love Home Comforts – Analysis

• Pompey sit 6th on 17 points
• League Record – P11 W5 D2 L4 F18 A12
• Only Luton (20) and Doncaster (22) have scored more goals in the league than Pompey (18)

Pompey drew 2-2 with Reading U23’s in midweek in the EFL trophy with first team coach Ian Foster happy with his sides response after falling 2-0 down. Speaking to portsmouthf.co.uk “we reacted really well to the goals, we kept passing, going forward and creating chances, forcing our way back in “

• Form in last 8 – W5 D0 L3 F17 A9
• Form in all competitions – DLLWLWW
• Away Record – P5 W1 D1 L3 F2 A6
• They are the lowest scorers away from home
• Only Wycombe (1), Stevenage (2) and Cheltenham (3) have taken less points away from home

It is has been a tale of recent matches with Pompey falling behind with manager Paul Cook very disappointed with his sides opening 15-20 minutes last week at home to Doncaster. Speaking post match to portmouthfc.co.uk “I was disappointed with how we started we built a description of how we play, getting about teams but we never got to grips with them in the first 20 minutes”.

• Have lost their last 3 away matches all competitions
• No clean sheet in last 6 games, last one came 3rd September in 3-0 win over Crawley
• Have kept 4 cleans sheets in 14 games this season and 2 of 7 away games
• Only Plymouth (5) have kept more clean sheets that Portsmouth (4)

Captain Michael Doyle highlighted that recent results have papered over the cracks of conceding an early goal, speaking to portsmouthfc.co.uk “it has been a habit of late, we have had an early goal against us but we have managed to win them games”. However after falling to back to back defeats Doyle insists it will show the character of his side and how they bounce back tomorrow against Orient. Speaking after the Donny defeat  “we need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down, it happens in football. It shows what you made of, hopefully it will galavanise us, we are going through a bade phase and we need to be better

• 9 of their 12 goals conceded have been in the 1st half,
• Have conceded  first in last 5 matches (6 in all competitions), 5 of them have been in the first 30 minutes of matches
• 7 of their 12 goals conceded have been in the first 30 minutes of matches – the most in the division
• Portsmouth are the only side  in the league have not conceded a league goal after the 65th minute 

Cook described his sides application on Tuesday night as “first class” and is looking for more of the same in Leyton tomorrow. Speaking ahead of the clash with Orient tomorrow to leytonorient.co.uk “we are looking forward to the game, it will be a good game with great travelling support, the challenge ahead for us is what we do with this group of players and us as a club. Our danger is not other teams in this league, our danger is being the best we can be”

• Have scored  in their last 4 games, and 10 of their last 11 games in competitions
• Only scored in 2 of their 5 away league matches this season
• Both teams have scored in their last 4 games and 5 of their last 6 games
• Have scored 10 of their 18 goals in the first half
• Only 2 0f their 18 goals have been scored away
• Have gained 4 points in the last 15 minutes

Cook reflected on his sides position after the opening 11 games and understands that consistency will be key come the end of the season, “we have shown flashes in the opening 11 games, we work hard with this group of players to get consistency and when we get that results will take care of themselves”. With Pompey’s inconsistent form Cook stated that “ he is searching for that formula and balance. Quality, work ethic and desire, within the group we have got them all but different games have different qualities on the pitch we must get all three on there”.

• Record scoring first – W3
• Portsmouth are unbeaten in their last 8 away games scoring first – W5 D2 L1
• Their last defeat when scoring first away from home was against Leyton Orient (3-2, 26/12/15)

A major issue for Cook and his Portsmouth side has been their away form which he alluded to on BBC Radio Solent after their defeat to Blackpool, “away from home, we cannot keeping offering ourselves up like we’re doing. All the good habits you’re supposed to have in a game: work ethic and desire were not there. We are more concerned about our away form and how we are playing away”.

• Record conceding first – W2 D1 L4
• Have lost their last 4 games conceding first
• Only won one of their last 8 games conceding first

Team News

Orient will be without both Robbie Weir and Jens Janse who will serve their second game of suspension after getting sent off against Plymouth. Midfielder Nigel Atangana remains a doubt alongside Harry Cornick and Sandro Semedo who both came off injured last weekend at Barnet.

Portsmouth will be without defenders Adam Buxton and Drew Talbot who are both out injured while Noel Hunt is a doubt for the game. Gareth Evans looks set to continue in the right back berth while striker Curtis Main will be pushing for a start after scoring both goals in his sides 2-2 draw on Tuesday night.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 13, Draw 13, Portsmouth 15

Last meeting – 06/02/16 – Portsmouth 0-1 Leyton Orient

• Orient have won the last six meetings between the sides
• Completed the league double over Pompey last season
• Portsmouth have failed to score in 2 of the last 3 meetings
• Orient have not lost to Portsmouth since 1996, 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park in the League Cup
• Portsmouth last beat Orient at Brisbane Road in 1975, 1-0 win
• Orient have won the last 4 games at Brisbane Road, all by a 1 goal margin
• Orient have only failed to score in 2 of their last 11 meetings with Portsmouth

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-2 Portsmouth