Leyton Orient assistant manager Ross Embleton wants his side to make an impression when they visit table toppers Macclesfield tomorrow. The O’s travel to face the Silkmen in front of the BT Sport cameras and the former Swindon man is hoping his side can ruin the home sides day. Speaking to leytonorient.com “We go there to spoil the party and delay that opportunity of going up”.

• Sit 12th on 53 points
• Form in last six – W3  D2  L1  F11  A4
• Won last three games scoring ten goals
• League Record – P41  W14  D11  L16  F53  A52

The O’s travel North after picking up their third straight victory last weekend with a 4-1 win over Barrow. Orient fell behind early on to a Luke James header but after equalising before half time, a brace from top scorer MacAuley Bonne and a Josh Koroma strike helped them to victory.

• Away League Record – P20  W7  D5  L8  F21  A27
• One win in last four – 3-1 vs Guiseley, 30/03/18
• Only one defeat in last eight league games – 1-0 vs Dover, 03/03/18
• Seven of Orient’s 11 wins under Edinburgh have been away

Orient sit relatively comfortable in mid table and Embleton was pleased with the manner his side ground out victory last weekend. It was only their second win in 21 games when conceding the first goal and the former Swindon man acknowledged his side have come a long way since the early part of the season. Speaking to East London Advertiser “I’m not sure we would have finished them off in the manner we did. I think it shows we have an edge about us now and this is a sterner Leyton Orient team going out on the pitch”.

Defender George Elokobi was disappointed his side failed to keep a clean sheet against Barrow but insists despite having nothing to play for this season, they are desperate to keep their unbeaten run going. Speaking to leytonorient.com “the mood is really good, we want to carry on winning games and keep the run going. At the same time, respect each team we play. It’s all about building momentum, we motivate and push each other through. We want to carry on working hard and make sure we keep run going”.

• Kept 11 League clean sheets – (seven away)
• No clean sheet in last two
• Last clean sheet – 3-0 vs Woking, 24/03/18
• Two clean sheets in last four
• Three clean sheets in last six away games
• Only conceded six goals in last ten league games

Striker Macauley Bonne moved to 20 league goals after his brace against Barrow and despite heading to the league leaders tomorrow, he is hungry for more goals. Bonne who joined from Colchester United last summer highlighted that he wants Orient to put the champagne on ice for Macclesfield. Speaking to nationalleague.org.uk “We’re coming up there to totally spoil their party, the seasons not done yet and we’ve still got a job to do. I’m sure they we will win it eventually but we’re not planning on being the ones they win it against”.

• Orient have scored 32/53 league goals in second half – 11/21/ away
• Netted 15 goals in the final 15 minutes of games
• Nine of the last 16 scored in the league have been in the second half

After a turbulent season in E10 after relegation last season, Orient are hoping for a top half finish with Embleton stating to leytonorient.com “we are striving to achieve, we have been looking up for a number of weeks, as a group we strive to finish up the league as high as we can. We look at teams around us and the teams we can catch”.

• Failed to score in 13 league games (seven away)
• Scored three or more in last three games
• Failed to score in two of last four away
• But scored in nine of the 13 away games under Edinburgh
• Scored in seven of last nine away games

Tomorrow’s clash with Macclesfield will be Orient’s fifth televised fixture this season and after losing all five, Embleton is keen with his side upwardly mobile to continue their form. Speaking to leytonorient.com “the attitude has to remain the same, they are full of confidence and are certainly making every opportunity to get back to the football league. In front of the cameras we want to go out, make an impression and build the momentum”.

• Conceded 33/52 goals in the first half of games
• 12 between 1-15 minutes and 14 between 31-45 minutes
• Eight of the last 11 goals conceded have been in first 15 or last 15 minutes of games
• 14/24 under Edinburgh and nine of the last 15 conceded have been in second half

Macclesfield host Orient needing just four points to clinch the National League title and promotion back to the Football League. The Silkmen edged closer on Tuesday night after a 2-0 win at Boreham Wood, courtesy of a brace from Tyrone Marsh and will be looking to ebb even nearer on Saturday.

• Sit 1st on 85 points – 12 above second placed Tranmere
• Form in last six – W4  D2
• One loss in last 13 – W9   D3  L1 (2-0 vs Dover)
• League Record – P43  W25  D10  L8  F62  A45

Manager John Askey praised the professionalism of his side after picking up their fourth win in their last five games. Speaking to Silk 106.9 after the win, he stated “coming to  place like that is always very tough, they are a good side but we were very professional with how we went about our job. They have been fantastic again and shown why we are where we are”.

• Home League Record – P21  W12  D6  L3  F28  A18
• Only Tranmere (42) have taken more points at home
• Won last five at home – last defeat 2-1 vs Eastleigh 28/10/17
• Unbeaten in last 12 games – W8  D4
• Three of their last four home wins have been 1-0

Askey admitted post match that despite Macclesfield lead growing at the top in recent weeks, he has still thought about all the scenarios. But with just three games to go, Askey knows that his side have it in their hands to clinch promotion “Tranmere have got it all to do, we know what we’ve got to do, four points from the last three games. We have been averaging more than that all season so I believe we can do it”.

• Kept 17 League clean sheets (10 at home – Only Wrexham 11 kept more)
• Two clean sheets in last three
• Three clean sheets in last four
• Four of last seven games, they have conceded at least two goals
• Not conceded more than one home goal in last ten home games

Midfielder Danny Whittaker has been an ever present this season for the Silkmen, missing just two league games. The 37 year old re-joined the club back in 2013 and revealed his was devastated when they dropped out the League in 2012. But speaking to nationalleague.org.uk “When I came back, I always knew the gaffer would be able to put a team together that was able to challenge, I just didn’t know how long it would take. Luckily, I’m able to play a part in it”.

• Failed to score in seven games  – only Fylde 6 have failed in less
• Scored 39/62 league goals in second half 
• 18/28 home goals in second half –
• Including 11 in final 15 minutes – gaining 10 points

Askey played for the Silkmen between 87 and 2003, playing a part in their promotion from the fifth tier to the Football League in 1997. The 53 year old has Macclesfield running through is blood and his reputation at Moss Rose would increase even more if he could lead them to promotion. Speaking to Silk 106.9 on what promotion would mean “football wise it would mean everything, it would be my biggest achievement. To get the club back in the Football League where as a player we worked so hard to get there before seeing them back in the conference would be a massive achievement” 

• Conceded 23/45 league goals in second half
• Four of their last six have been in second half

Macclesfield could be crown champions if they win tomorrow and second placed Tranmere fail to win at home to Aldershot. Despite Orient arriving in mid table, Whittaker is aware that the East Londoners will want to spoil the party, “it’s always nice to play on TV but with the position we’re in, it’s a little bit special. Every match in the National League is difficult and poses different problems. Orient have picked up recently but we’ll go into it like we have the past four or five games, full of confidence”.

• Record against top half – P20  W11  D5 L4
• Unbeaten at home – W6  D3  – keeping six clean sheets
• 10/25 wins and 6/12 home wins have ended 1-0

Team News

Leyton Orient will be without the injured quartet of James Dayton, Josh Coulson, Alex Lawless and Matt Harrold. Charlie Lee is back in training but still off match fitness. Marvin Ekpiteta could be handed his first start alongside George Elokobi in defence while Dan Holman could return to the squad after missing the win over Barrow.

Macclesfield will be without Ryan Lloyd who is out through injury while Elliott Durrell is doubtful. Striker Tyrone Marsh is looking to add to his four goals in his last four games, including a brace in Tuesday’s win at Boreham Wood.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 6, Draw 3, Macclesfield 8

Last meeting – 21/10/17 – Leyton Orient 0-1 Macclesfield

The Last seven meetings between sides

Prediction – Macclesfield 1-1 Leyton Orient