Leyton Orient midfielder James Dayton is hoping his side take their positive Christmas period into the new year when they host Boreham Wood tomorrow. The O’s took seven points from four games over Christmas and Dayton insists the mood is good in the camp.

• Sit 19th on 31 points – eight above the relegation zone
• 4th Worse Defensive Record in League, only conceded three in six under Edinburgh
• Form in last six – W4  D1  L1  F10  A3

Orient’s latest point came away at Dagenham & Redbridge on New Year’s Day with Edinburgh describing the game to leytonorient.com “it was a really tough encounter, two teams going full at it for victory but both defences were on top. I don’t know If we did enough to win game likewise Dagenham”.

The draw was Orient second game in three days and with Orient playing with 10 men in the first fixture, Edinburgh was delighted with his side. Speaking to East London Advertiser “I am delighted with that performance, I thought we were dogged and committed and it was not pretty at times. What I would say is when I first came to the club I don’t think that we would have got that result”.

• Home league record – P14  W5  D3  L6  F21  A18
• Only lost one of last five – W2  D2  L1
• Defeat, 30/12/17 – 1-0 by Bromley, playing with ten men for 86 minutes
• First home game in five, Orient did not score in

Edinburgh joined the O’s back in early December and reflected on his first month in charge of the O’s to leytonorient.com “we are starting to get more consistent for longer periods in games, restricting  the opposition to limited chances which is pleasing and we look a threat going forward. There is a real amount of progress but certainly room for improvement”.

• Edinburgh’s record – P7  W4  D1  L2
• Only conceded two goals in three home matches
• Have not conceded more than one goal under Edinburgh
• Have only trailed in three of the seven games

Since Edinburgh’s arrival, Orient have only conceded four goals in seven games with the emphasis being on keeping it tight at the back. The former Northampton manager was quick to praise his whole side not just the defence, “it’s very pleasing for the players and the team, it has been from front to back, we have done some work on the training ground and we are reaping the rewards from that, we look really assured and comfortable in our shape with each player knowing what is expected”.

• Kept six league clean sheets – (two at home)
• Kept three in their last four games
• Only conceded one goal in last four games – playing with ten men
• One clean sheet in last seven home games – Dagenham 2-0, Boxing Day
• One Clean sheet in last 12 home league games

The O’s players were given a few days off this week to recover from the workload in recent games and Dayton stated that it was good to unwind and get away from it. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we had a couple of days off to recover, we had a busy schedule but to get away from it mentally was good. But we were back at it Thursday and the mood is good”.

• Failed to score in nine league games (four at home)
• Failed to score in last two games
• Scored in four of their last five home matches
• Scored 22/35 league goals in second half – including 11 in final 15 minutes
• Nine of the last 12 goals scored have been in second half – 8/10 under Edinburgh

Orient’s defeat to Boreham Wood in September started their run of 15 league games without a win. Dayton was surprised by the them earlier in the season but knows tomorrow’s game will be different “I was really impressed with them, although we were not up to scratch, they limited us in what we could do. But it’s a home game, a new gaffer and lots of things have changed. We have new players and we are looking forward”.

• Conceded 27/42 league goals in the first half – most in league
• Conceded 10 between 1-15 minutes and conceded 10 between 31-45 minutes

Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard insists his side have to concentrate on themselves when they head to Leyton Orient tomorrow. The Wood sit just outside the play off places but Garrard stated to bwfctv.co.uk “it’s about what we do, I think we are in a good place, look at the result against Sutton, if you take that out, it’s one loss in 18 fixtures”.

• Sit 8th on 43 points – outside play offs on goal difference
• League Record – P27  W11  D10  L6  F37  A27
• Form in last six – W1  D3  L2  F6  A8

The Wood earned a point away to Sutton on New Year’s Day with an Angelo Balanta injury time header. Jamie Collins had put Sutton ahead in the second half but Balanta headed Bruno Andrade’s late corner home.

• Only lost one of their last 15 league games – W6  D8  L1   (0-4 Sutton, Boxing Day)
• Unbeaten in League on travels in last seven – since 16/09/17 (2-1 loss at Maidenhead)  W2  D5

In a game lacking clear cut chances, Garrard was proud of the reaction of his side after falling behind giving them a well earned draw. Speaking to bwfctvco.uk “it was a nothing game, a lot of the game was spend between the 18 yard boxes. The reaction was superb, we battled and luckily we came away with a point, a fair reflection”.

• Scored 20/37 league goals in first half
• Including 12 between minutes 31-45 – joint most in league
• 12/19 away league goals have come in the second half

Despite winning just one of their festive fixtures, Garrard heaped praise on his side for their recent form stating, “I’m happy, five points from four games is not a bad return, it put us in top six with returns over Christmas. Could we have had more, 100%”. Only Dover have lost more National League fixtures this season and Garrard added “we have lost one game in 18 fixtures including the FA Trophy and two in 20 including Coventry. That is no mean feat, got to give credit to these boys”.

• Kept ten clean sheets in league (five away)
• Kept two in their last four games
• Kept four in their last seven away games
• Have not conceded more than one away goal in last ten games on travels (Coventry, 3-0 FA Cup, 03/12/17)

Goal-scorer Balanta was proud of the character his side showed fighting back against Sutton and knows that his side need to show that when they face Orient on Saturday. Following Orient, Boreham Wood travel to Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday and Balanta is confident of his side “we have two massive games, once we get our game plan going, we are a threat to any side in this league”. Bwfctv.co.uk

• Away Record – P13  W4  D7  L2  F19  A13
• Drew three of their last four – defeat away 3-0 away at Coventry, FA Cup
• Only lost one of their last seven – W1  D5  L1 
• Last away league win – 4-0 Maidstone, 21/11/14

Boreham Wood beat Orient back in September but Garrard is well aware that Orient are playing differently now, “they have a new manager in Justin Edinburgh and he has got them playing in a different manner than what we faced earlier. They are very organised and well drilled. I have watched them three or four times, they have got quality throughout their ranks”.

• Failed to score in seven league games (three away)
• Scored in last two
• Failed in two of their last four
• Failed to score in four of their last seven away games

Garrard acknowledges that it will be a tougher test for his side but insists “we are going to get a result, no-one is underestimating what they are about. The personnel is similar but I think Edinburgh has stripped it back. It is about what we do, if we get to our maximum I know we can cause them problems”

• Have conceded 15/27 league goals in the second half
• Five of their six defeats have been by just one goal

Team News

Leyton Orient recent signings Dan Holman and Lamar Reynolds are available for selection after joining on loan from Cheltenham and Notts County respectively. Defender Bondz N’Gala is back after serving his one match suspension against Dagenham & Redbridge. Jobi McAnuff is a doubt with a knee injury however George Elokobi could be back in the squad after playing 45 minutes in a U23’s game in midweek. Charlie Lee remains the only long term absentee.

Boreham Wood will have recent signing Alex Davey available after the defender joined on a permanent deal in midweek. Dean Wells is out after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Striker Angelo Balanata will hoping his equaliser at Sutton has done enough to earn at starting spot at Brisbane Road.

Head to Head – One Previous meeting

9th September – Boreham Wood 2-0 Leyton Orient : Woodards 35, Murtagh 51

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-1 Boreham Wood