Leyton Orient defender Josh Coulson insists his side will be taking the FA Trophy seriously this season. The former Cambridge man won the competition back in 2014 and knows what everyone’s focus should be. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it’s a chance to go to Wembley, it’s a brilliant experience, any player playing in it needs to realise it’s a chance to play at Wembley”.

• Sit 19th in National League – six points above relegation zone

Coulson made his loan move from Cambridge permanent this week, joining the O’s on a two and half year deal. Speaking to leytonorient.com on the deal “I’m absolutely delighted to get it done now I can crack on with my job and seeing where we end up at the end of the season”.

• Spent ten years at Cambridge
• Scored two in his last six games 

Orient travel to Bognor Regis on the back of a 0-0 home draw with Boreham Wood, their second 0-0 in a row. Orient were under the cosh in the first period but grew into the game in the second period with Head Coach Justin Edinburgh stating to East London Advertiser “we were up against it first half and never got a foothold in the game but as the second half came, I thought we were on front foot”.

• Failed to score in last three games
• Won four of last seven games – W4  D2  L1

Assistant Coach Ross Embleton highlighted the good working relationship himself and Edinburgh have since the former Gillingham man’s arrival in late November. With just one defeat in their last seven games, Orient have been slowly improving with Embleton stating to leytonorient.com “there has been a real turn and change in the work rate and work ethic of everybody. There is a lot more energy in training and emphasis on work rate and being harder to play against”.

• Away Record – P17  W4  D5  L8  F17  A27
• Unbeaten in last three away games – D1  L2
• Kept back to back away clean sheets (2-0 win vs Maidstone, 0-0 draw with Dagenham)
• Failed to score in three of last five away games
• Lost one of four away cup games this season  – W2  D1  L1 (loss 2-1 to Gillingham, FA Cup 1st Round)

Orient came through the previous round of the trophy with a 2-1 win at Haringey Borough and Embleton insists his side want to go as far as they can. Speaking to leytonorient.com “there is a huge reward at the end, it’s a day out and as a coach and with the players, it’s something we are trying to achieve”. Despite Bognor sitting 26 league places below Orient, Embleton has a clear message for the players “we need to make sure we go in with exactly the same attitude as we do in week in and week out”.

• Kept four clean sheets in their last five games
• Conceded just one goal in last 535 minutes of football

Without a win since Boxing Day, midfielder Jobi McAnuff is hoping his side can get back to winning ways on Saturday. The 36 year old knows how big the clash will be for Bognor but “it’s one we’re looking forward to and we will go there and aim to enjoy it and look to get back to winning ways” East London Advertiser. McAnuff has been handed the captain’s armband under Edinburgh and highlighted “the biggest difference of late is our mentality going in to games and not taking things for granted”.

• Nine of last 12 goals and 8/10 under Justin Edinburgh have been scored in secnd half
• Three of the four cup goals scored this season have been in the second half

Orient are expected to name a strong starting 11 at Bognor Regis with Justin Edinburgh stating to East London Advertiser “we are taking the trophy seriously, we played a full team against Haringey Borough. It will be the same at Bognor, they will get the respect they deserve because it’s a competition I feel we can win”.

Bognor Regis last six seasons

Jack Pearce’s Bognor Regis side host Orient on the back of a 2-2 draw at Whitehawk last Saturday. Gold Omotayo put Whitehawk ahead on the stroke of half time from the spot but two goals in a seven minute spell from Jimmy Muitt looked to have given Bognor the win. However, Whitehawk’s Simon Mensah struck home 11 minutes from time to share the points.

• Six points from safety at the bottom of National League South  
• No win in last four – D3 L1
• One win in last seven – W1  D4  L2
• Two wins in last 10 – W2  D6  L2  (both wins in FA Trophy)
• Last win – Taunton 1-4 Bognor, 16/12/17

Bognor coach Darin Killpatrick is hoping his side can continue their performance last week when Orient arrive tomorrow. Speaking to Bognor.co.uk on last weekend’s draw “we were the better team and created many chances. I’ve watched the video back and their penalty was one of the softest I’ve seen for a few years. We played some good football on a difficult pitch and we just have to keep working hard”.

• Home Record – P13  W3 D4  L6  F18  A21
• No win in last three – D1  L2
• Last win vs Hemel Hempstead 1-0, FA trophy, 28/11/17
• One win since August 15th, 11  games – W1  D4  L6 
• Conceded in last three home games

Sitting second bottom of National League South, the FA trophy has given Bognor some light relief. Having reached the semi finals of the competition back in 2016, Killpatrick knows the challenge that awaits his side tomorrow, “we will have to be at our very best from start to finish if we are to get anything from the tie. It will be a day and an occasion when the pressures of the league are off and when hopefully everyone can enjoy a great spectacle”.

• Kept one clean sheet in last five games (Havant & Waterlooville 0-0, 26.12.17)
• Kept two in last seven games – both 0-0 away from home
• No Clean sheet in last three home games
• Two in 13 home games this season – both in November

Bognor last five seasons in FA Trophy

Bognor beat Taunton Town in the previous round to set up the clash with Orient and Killpatrick insists his side will plan as normal, “we trained hard Tuesday night and will plan for a game in a way like we would for any other game. We know Leyton Orient were a Football League club until last year and will present us with a huge challenge”.

• Failed to score in two of their last three games
• Scored in three of their last four home games
• Failed to score in last home games, 0-3 defeat to Havant & Waterlooville
• Scored in ten of 13 home games this season

Team News

Leyton Orient midfielder Alex Lawless is a doubt with a injury while loan signing Dan Holman is cup tied. Defender George Elokobi will be hoping to be back in the squad after increasing his rehab while Lamar Reynolds is pushing for a start. New loan signing Ebou Adams could be handed a debut after arriving from Norwich City on loan this week. Myles Judd resumed training this week and could be included but Charlie Lee remains out.

Bognor could hand a start to French midfielder Richard Gilot after signing this week after an impressive trial. Manny Adebowale is available after Dover gave him permission to play. However James Crane, Corey Heath, Chad Field and Keaton Wood are all unavailable through injury. Gary Charman is set to continue after joining from Eastbourne Borough last week.

Prediction – Bognor Regis 0-2 Leyton Orient