Leyton Orient defender Dan Happe is confident his side will progress to the semi finals of the FA Trophy on Saturday. The O’s host Gateshead in the Quarter Finals and the Orient youngster is keen for his side to keeping their momentum going. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it will be a tough game, both teams will be proper up for it, I reckon we can come out on top. We’re a team full of confidence and we want to push on to the semi’s”.

• 15th in National League
• Form in last six – W4  D1  L1
• Only lost three of 15 games under Justin Edinburgh – W9  D3  L3
• Last defeat – 3-2 vs Aldershot, 27/01/18

Orient extended their unbeaten run to five games with a second consecutive 1-0 away win on Tuesday. James Brophy’s second half header saw Orient leave Chester with all three points. Head coach Justin Edinburgh was delighted with the result, speaking to leytonorient.com “it’s another fantastic away performance, really assured, credit to the players, their was a phenomenal work rate tonight and we were always a threat”

• Orient have scored eight in three trophy games this season
• Orient have scored in five of their six cup games this season – only failing vs Dagenham & Rebridge, FA Cup, 14/11/17
• 16 of the 23 goals scored under Edinburgh have been in second half
• 20 of the last 28 goals scored by Orient have been in the second half

Brophy’s goal at Chester was his first in 18 months and first for Orient after his January move from Swindon. The 23 year old has started the last three games and is hoping that his side can end the season on a high but knows that they need to stick to what they have been doing. Speaking to leytonorient.com  “we are looking forward to it, we need to keep it going, maintain our commitment, discipline and make sure in both boxes we are doing everything we can”.

• Orient have failed to score in 11 games this season
• Scored in last seven games (only one in each of their last three)
• Last failed to score – 0-0 vs Boreham Wood, 06/01/18
• Scored in three of their last five home games

Happe made his 23 appearance of the season on Tuesday after an injury to fellow defender George Elokobi in the warm up. Head Coach Edinburgh praised the youngster after being called up at such short notice. Speaking to BBC London “credit to Dan Happe, he had six or seven minutes to prepare and I think it showed in the first five to ten minutes. But he showed great maturity to work his way back in and played a huge part in the back five, keeping a clean sheet”.

• Kept back to back clean sheets for the third time in 15 games
• Kept 11 clean sheets this season (four at home)
• Kept two in last five at home
• No Clean sheet in the FA Trophy this season
• Conceded four in last two home games

Saturday’s trophy game will be Orient’s first at home this season after playing the first three rounds away from home. Assistant manager Ross Embleton is aware that after two victories on the road, his side need to continue the run at home. Speaking to leytonorient.com “every game at home is exciting as we know the fans will come in their numbers. The backing we have had all season has been fantastic, particularly when on a good run and it helps to build belief around the stadium”.

• Home Record this season – P18  W6  D5  L7  F25  A22
• No win in last four – D2  L2
• Two wins in last six (4-1 vs Sutton, 2-0 vs Dagenham & Redbridge)
• Last win on Boxing Day, 2-0
• Only three wins since 3rd September, W3  D4  L7

The O’s nearly blew a three goal lead at Dover in the previous round and Embleton revealed that the manner of the winning goal has built the competition up more for his side. “We moved from a comfortable position to a nail-biting one. It added excitement in the way we scored and it built it right up” said Embleton. However the 36 year highlights the need to “control it and be professional. We want it to be exciting but the most important thing is to win and be in the draw for the semi”.

Orient’s route to Quarter Finals

Gateshead arrive in E10 on the back of a 1-1 away draw at Barrow on Tuesday night. Jordan Preston earned the ten man Heed army a point with ten minutes to go after Luke James put the hosts ahead from the spot in the first half; Jamal Fyfield received a second caution early in the second half.

• 13th in National League
• One win in last four – W1  D1  L2
• Last win – 1-0 away to Guiseley, 13/02/2018
• Form in last six – W2  D2  L2

Manager Steve Watson was disappointed with his side falling behind at Barrow but credited the response that his side gave in earning a point. Despite being reduced to ten men, Watson felt his side could have won the game and highlights they need to take that into Saturday. Speaking to Gateshead-fc.com “I’m delighted with a point, well earned and well deserved. We need to take all the positives out of the second half, the energy levels were fantastic and take it into Saturday to get into the semi finals”.

• Away Record this season – P19  W5  D9  L5  F26  A23
• One loss in last 11 on their travels – W4  D6  L1
• Last loss – 2-1 vs Boreham Wood, 17/02/18
• Drew six of their last nine – four finishing 1-1
• Won one of last four – 1-0 vs Guiseley

Striker Jordan Burrow won the trophy back in 2016 with Halifax and the 25 year old knows that after beating Orient away in the league back in October, there is no reason why they can’t do it again. Speaking to Gateshead-fc.com “it will be tough but it’s one we are looking forward to and one I think we can do well in. It’s the old cliché of we have to take things a game at a time and it’s probably the hardest draw we could of got. But it’s one if we win there is no reason why we can’t go all the way”.

• Failed to score in nine games this season
• Scored in their last six
• Last failed to score – 0-0 vs Wrexham, 30/01/18
• Only failed once in their last 12 games
• Scored in their last 12 away games and 15 of their last 16
• Last failed 0-0 vs Fylde, 03/10/17

Watson was appointed back in October after Neil Aspin left to go to Port Vale. The win at Orient was his first as manager but the former Newcastle man knows that they will provide a very different test for his side. Speaking to Gateshead-fc.com “There is a lot of hard work to do against a very good side that have picked up a lot. They’ve just had two very good away wins, two clean sheets and it will be very tough but one we are looking forward to”.

• Record since Watson took over – P26  W9  D11  L6
• Only lost two away games since 10th October

Watson was assistant at Macclesfield last season when they reached the trophy final only to lose to York City. The 43 year old explains that no player should need any motivation when there is an opportunity to play at Wembley in the offering. “As players not many get the chance to go. It’s a great chance and the goal for our lads, it is something to remember for the rest of our lives” said Watson.

• Kept 14 clean sheets this season (five away)
• Kept two in their last five
• Last Clean sheet vs Guiseley
• Only kept one in their last nine away games
• Only kept one in their five trophy games this season

Gateshead’s last seven season in Trophy

Gateshead have not made it easy for themselves in the trophy this season, not winning a tie inside 90 minutes. Striker Burrow is hoping his side can show more of the resilience that has seen them reach the quarter finals for the second time in three seasons. Speaking to Gateshead-fc.com “we’ve been behind in a lot of games so far and managed to salvage something or force a replay. Hopefully we can get the game finished inside 90 on Saturday, if needs be then we’ll bring them back to our stadium”.

Gateshead’s route to the Quarter Finals

Team News

Leyton Orient will be without the trio of Dan Holman, Sam Ling and Nathan Mavilla who are all cup tied. Midfielder Jobi McAnuff remains a doubt after missing the last two ames with a shoulder injury while George Elokobi is doubt with a hamstring injury.

Jamal Fyfield is suspended after being sent off at Barrow in midweek while Ben Fox is cup tied. There are doubts over defenders Frazer Kerr and Neil Byrne after they missed the draw at Barrow.

Previous Meeting – 24/10/17 – Leyton Orient 0-2 Gateshead 

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-1 Gateshead