Leyton Orient head coach Steve Davis is hoping his side can build on their first victory of the season as they host Maidstone United tomorrow. Goals from Charlie Lee, David Mooney and George Elokobi sealed all three points at Brisbane Road on Tuesday against Solihull with Davis keen for his side to achieve maximum points once again.

• Tuesday’s win was only Orient’s second at home in 2017
• Orient have not won a Saturday 3pm home game since 10th December 2016 (1-0 vs Accrington)

Orient bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Sutton United on the opening day on Tuesday night, with Davis particularly pleased with his sides attacking prowess. Speaking to leytonorient.com post match , “the win feels great, we deserved it and played well. I pleased with the way we attacked, we created a lot of opportunities, hit the woodwork three times and missed some good opportunities too”.

The O’s first and third goals on Tuesday came from a set pieces which delighted Davis, “it is funny how you end up with goals that drop for you. That is what you work for, we have tried to do a little more on set plays, they will be important to us this season. We have got to be able to get goals from all over the pitch”.

• Orient are without a clean sheet in their last 15 league games
• Only kept one clean sheet in last 28 league games (4-0 vs Newport, 4th March)
• No home clean sheet in 2017, without one since 10/12/16 vs Accrington – 13 games

Defender George Elokobi praised the work that Davis has done on the training ground with the team. Speaking to East London Advertiser, “he is pointing us in the right direction, he is fantastic and has a way he wants us to play; we are slowly getting there”. However the former Colchester man knows that “if we have to battle, we will and at times we are going to need to”.

Elokobi praised the Orient fans after netting his first goal “it is great to hear the fans chanting your name, that as a player knows they appreciate what you are doing on the pitch”. With Orient squad having some great quality in it, Elokobi is key to point out “it will not always be the same starting 11 who play, I will give it my all behind the scenes, we have a good group and it is a squad game”.

Ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Maidstone, Davis acknowledges that his side need to cement the win on Tuesday with another one, “I hope we can make it back to back wins, you want to try and build some momentum”. Speaking to east London Advertiser , “it is no good beating Solihull and then not following it up with something on Saturday, we will be doing our best to get three points,”

• Orient have not won back to back league games since August 2016 (3-0 vs Stevenage, 2-1 vs Grimsby)
• Orient have not won back to back home league games since April 2016 (3-2 vs Dagenham, 1-0 vs Mansfield)

With the Maidstone game being the third of seven in August, Davis is keen to note that he may rotate some of his squad, “we got a few knocks and had some tired legs after Tuesday. That is when the squad comes into play, it isn’t just the ones on the bench but the people who have missed out so far; they are all good enough to play in the team“

The former Crewe man highlighted that his side have learnt a lot about the physicality of the Vanarama National in the opening week, “there were a lot of professional fouls and things going on vs Solihull. We just hope the referee sees it all and make some fair and good decisions”

Maidstone travel to East London following a 2-0 away defeat to Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night. Luke Coulson and Danny Kedwell struck for Fleet while Maidstone had Stuart Lewis sent off in the dying minutes. The Stones drew their opening game of the season with Maidenhead; Joe Pigott grabbed the Stones goal.

• Maidstone have not lost back to back league games since January 2017 (2-0 Vs Solihull, 2-0 vs Aldershot)
• No win in their last six National League games
• Only lost two of their last nine away games – W4 D3 L2

The Stones finished 14th in their debut season in the National League last season after achieving back to back promotions in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Manager Jay Saunders has been at the club since 2011 and has overseen the Stones rise through the divisions.

• League Record 16/17 – P46 W16  D10  L20  F59  A75
• Away record 16/17 – P23  W8  D5  L10  F30  A36

After their defeat at Ebbsfleet, Saunders spoke to BBC Radio Kent, “key moments change games, our game plan was working and we had the better chances then we switched off”. Saunders praised his sides discipline when defending “they had good possession but our shape was right”.

Despite their first loss of the season Saunders was quick to pick his side up ahead of their visit to Orient tomorrow, “I have said to the boys, we have got to keep our heads up, we will play worse and get a result. It was tough to take because it looked even at times”.

With the hectic August fixtures, Saunders highlighted that they can be used as a positive for his team, “when you lose in this league, you have a game quick to get over the last one. If you put in a good performance and win, everything is forgotten”.

Saunders is relishing his sides first trip to Brisbane Road tomorrow, speaking to kentonline.co.uk “there is going to be a big crowd which is ideal for our boys. A lot of them haven’t played their before which is good and hopefully we can get a result”. He added “sometimes you expect to win games when you go to other teams, but when you go somewhere like Orient, you can look forward to it and maybe the players raise their game”.

The 38 year old was happy that Orient finally changed ownership in the summer, “I’m pleased, they are a big, old club, it is good they have found their feet”. The Stones manager thinks that the O’s will be in the hunt this season, “I think they will be up there, it will be difficult as they have got a completely new side. Once they get ahead of steam they’ll be touch to stop so maybe it’s a good time to go there”.

Team News

Orient head coach Steve Davis hinted at rotating his squad ahead of the visit of Maidstone. First team captain Charlie Lee was substituted in the second half after taking a heavy challenge so could be a doubt. Craig Clay and Josh Koroma will be pushing for starts after coming off the bench in the last two games.

Maidstone will be without suspended Stuart Lewis who begins his three match ban after his red card on Tueday. Alex Finney is doubt after coming off with an injury with Magnus Okuonghae coming in for the on loan QPR defender. Jamar Loza and Johan ter Horst are definitely out with injury.

Prediction

Leyton Orient 2-1 Maidstone United