Leyton Orient assistant coach Ross Embleton highlights the need for his side to improve defensively. The O’s blew a three goal lead away at Dover last weekend but had to be thankful to a David Mooney strike in added time to win the game. Embleton spoke to leytonorient.com stating “we have got to make sure we see the game out, we can’t afford to give three goals away in the manner we did”.

• 17th on 35 points – five above relegation zone
• Three wins in the last four
• Form in last six – W3  D2  L1
• League Record – P31  W9  D8  L14  F39  A46

George Elokobi, MacAuley Bonne and Matt Harrold put Orient three up at Dover before they pulled three goals back. Striker David Mooney grabbed his first goal since October to give Orient back to back wins for the first time in 2018. 

• Seven of their nine league wins have been by two or more goals
• Orient have only won two of their 17 games against the current top half in National League
• Both wins came at home (2-0 vs Dagenham, 4-1 vs Sutton United)

Orient dominated for large spells but nearly ruined all their hard work in the last ten minutes, which left head coach Justin Edinburgh with mixed emotions. Speaking to BBC London “ it was a frustrating afternoon, some of the finishing was exquisite, on the flip side the way we allowed such a comfortable performance nearly overshadowed it”. He added “I am delighted with the result for long periods of the game it was the best we’ve played since I’ve been here but lapses of concentration nearly cost us”.

• Home League Record – P16  W5  D4  L7  F23  A21
• No win in last three – D1  L2
• Two wins in their last nine –  W2  D3  L4
• Last win 2-0 vs Dagenham, 26/12/17
• Only won three home games since the start of September – 13 games

Edinburgh’s arrival in November coincided with their improvement defensively, conceding just four goals in his first eight games in charge. But with the O’s conceding seven in their last three games, Embleton is very aware that his side need to stop the goals going in. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we can’t afford to keep relying on the front players to score goals. We missed a number of chances which would have helped take some pressure of backline”.

• Kept seven league clean sheets (three at home)
• No clean sheet in last four games
• Kept two in their last four home games
• Last Clean sheet – 0-0 vs Boreham Wood, 06/01/2018
• Kept four in 12 games under Edinburgh

With Sam Ling signing in midweek, it is another player which adds competition to the already strong squad. All three strikers available last weekend scored for the O’s and head coach Edinburgh is fully aware that he will have to make tough decisions. Speaking to BBC London, “there are real decision for me to make, as a manger it is what you want. The competition is very strong now”.

• Failed to score in ten league games (five at home)
• Scored at least two goals in their last four games
• Only scored in one of their last three home games
• Scored in last two league games but failed to score in three of last five

The O’s lost 2-1 at Tranmere earlier in the season and Embleton revealed to leytonorient.com that he was impressed by Micky Mellon’s outfit. “There have been one or two teams I have looked at this season who I felt were strong teams in the league and Tranmere were certainly one of them“ He added “I felt we underperformed in the away game, we had a number of opportunities to get some points from the game”.

• Conceded 29/46 league goals in first half
• The joint most in league alongside Chester
• Have conceded 12 between minutes 31-45 
• Only Guiseley and Chester (14) have conceded more in that period
• Only four of the 12 conceded under Edinburgh have come in first hlf

Despite Tranmere only winning three of their opening 12 league games, Embleton is aware how their form has improved as the season has progressed, “they had a sloppy, slow start to the season but they are now in a good position in the league”. He added “it is important we respect what they are about, we feel they are well equipped for the division but we have looked and identified the key elements to give us a chance to win the game”.

• Have scored 23/39 league goals in second half
• 16/23 home league goals have been in the second half
• 14/20 scored under Edinburgh have come in second half
• 18 of the last 25 goals scored have been in the second half

Tranmere arrive in E10 on the back of their third win in four games which moved them to within two points of leaders Wrexham. Andy Cook sent them on their way opening the scoring against Ebbsfleet before James Norwood netted a brace to see Rovers cement their place in the promotion hunt.

• Sit 4th on 54 points
• Unbeaten in last five, one loss in last nine
• One loss in last 12 league games – W8 D3  L1
• League Record – P32  W15  D9  L8  F51  A30

With only two of the top eight playing last weekend, Mellon was delighted that his team were able to get themselves right into the mix. Speaking to tranmererovers.co.uk “I am really pleased to get the result, delighted to score goals and keep a clean sheet at home”. He added “it was an opportunity for us to close in at the top end of the league, it brings a bit of pressure but to play the way we did, I am really pleased with it”.

• Away League Record – P16  W4  D7  L5  F16  A18
• One win in last four – W1  D2  L1
• Only lost one of their last five – 5-2 vs Fylde, 01/01/18
• 35% of league points come away
• Scored in nine of their last ten away league games
• Last failed to score – 1-0 vs Gateshead, 18/11/17

Striker James Norwood’s two goals saw him achieve 50 goals for Tranmere and the striker was quick to praise the whole side for the win. Speaking to tranmererovers.co,uk “from front to back, I thought we were superb, the clean sheet is massive for us. Everyone was brilliant and we ticked over really well which made it quite comfortable for ourselves”.

• Kept 13 league clean sheets (six away)
• Only Wrexham (18) have kept more clean sheets in league
• Kept two in their last four
• Only kept one in their last 12 away games (1-0 vs Woking, 13/01/18)
• Kept five in their first seven away games of season, just one in last nine

With both Andy Cook and Norwood netting last weekend, it was the sixth game in their last seven where one of them had found the net. Norwood was delighted that partnership keeps on building, “we get on really well, we travel in together and we have had a run of games now where we are pretty confident we’re going to play together”. He added “we are building that partnership and it is working well at the minute so we will keep working and hopefully keep scoring”.

• Norwood (13) and Cook (13) have scored 51% of their league goals
• The pair have scored nine of their last 16 league goals
• Scored 27/51 league goals in the second half – including 15 in the final 15 minutes of games
• Only Dagenham (16) have scored more in that period
• Six of their last 12 goals have been scored in second half

Rovers were eight points off the lead at the start of 2018 and Mellon highlighted that now promotion is up for grabs his side need to keep performing as they are. “It is about making sure we turn up and do our jobs, we are pleased to get into the position to attack and have a chance to win the prize”. He added “there is still a lot to be done, there are big games to be played for all the teams up there”.

• Third highest scorers in league, behind Bromley (53) and Fylde (56)
• Failed to score in ten league games (six away)
• Have scored in their last nine games – scoring two or more in seven of them
• Last failed to score 2-0 vs Solihull, 18/12/17
• Scored in last 12 national league games 

Mellon has faced Edinburgh three times in the last three years in league fixtures and is aware of what to expect in tomorrow’s trip to London. Mellon, “he is a good manager, one I know very well, he will get them going I have no doubt about that. He has a way of playing and knows these levels very well, it will be a tough game”. Mellon thinks that despite Orient’s league position they will find form, “they are a good, massive club and at some stage they will hit a winning streak”.

• Only Macclesfield (982) have led for more minutes than Tranmere (962) in the National League
• Record against bottom half – P17  W10  D5  L2  F29  A10 (both losses away)
• Unbeaten against bottom ten – W9  D5 (away W2  D4)

Team News

Leyton Orient welcome back Alex Lawless from suspension and Dan Holman after he was cup tied in the FA Trophy last weekend. New signing Sam Ling is available after joining from Dagenham & Redbridge in midweek. James Dayton is out for the season while Charlie Lee continues his rehabilitation.

Embleton on squad “the squad looks very strong, the starting 11 is going to be very strong along with the bench, one or two players will miss out”

Tranmere’s Adam Buxton is a major doubt for tomorrow’s clash after missing this week’s training due to a calf injury. James Wallace will miss the trip after picking up a groin injury in midweek. Midfielder Ben Tollitt scored in midweek in a behind closed door friendly and will be included within the squad.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 15, Draw  7, Tranmere Rovers 17 

Last meeting – 04/10/17 – Tranmere 2-1 Leyton Orient

Last 11 meetings between sides

• There has been at least three goals in four of the last five meetings
• Orient have won the last two meetings at Brisbane Road and three of the last four
• Tranmere last won at Brisbane back in 2011 – 1-0 win

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-2 Tranmere Rovers