Leyton Orient defender Joe Widdowson insists there will be no let up in performance when his side travel to Hartlepool on Tuesday evening. Orient have only lost once in their last seven games and the former Dagenham left back wants his to continue that record at Victoria Road. Speaking to leytonorient.com “a draw was probably a fair result and a good result as we want to stay unbeaten until the end of the season. We are putting our foot down as we want to do well in these games”.

• Sit 14th on 54 points
• Form in last six – W3  D2  L1
• Taken 11 points from last 15 available
• League Record – P42  W14  D12  L16  F54  A53

The O’s extended their unbeaten run to five games on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at Macclesfield. Josh Koroma’s strike cancelled out Danny Whittaker’s opener at Moss Rose. Head Coach Justin Edinburgh was delighted with the performance of his side and speaking to BBC London stated “ I thought we gave a very good account of ourselves and apart from a miraculous block on the line, stopped us collecting all three points”

• Away League Record – P21  W7  D6  L8  F22  A28
• Unbeaten in last three – W1  D2
• One win in last five – 3-1 vs Guiseley, 30/03/2018
• Only lost one of last nine away league games, Dover 1-0, 03/03/2018
• Seven of the 11 wins under Edinburgh have been away

Orient fell behind early on Saturday for the second game in a row but Edinburgh’s side have shown resilience in recent weeks to battle back and earn points. Widdowson felt his side on another day could have taken all three points, “overall, I think we created the most chance and carried the greater goal threat, apart from their goal I don’t remember too many scoring opportunities”.

• Failed to score in 13 league games (seven away)
• Scored in three of last five on the road
• Scored in their last four games and six of their last eight in all competitions
• Scored in eight of their last ten away games

After a shaky opening period at Moss Rose, Orient defended well and kept Macclesfield’s chances to a minimum in the second period. Edinburgh handed Marvin Ekpiteta his first start for the club in the absence of Josh Coulson and the former Newport man praised his and the rest of the defensive display. Speaking to leytonorient.com “Joe was excellent from start to finish, Marsh is a dangerous for them and he marked him out of the game. I am delighted for Marvin, he was excellent alongside George and Lingy”. He added “we looked assured and very solid at the back”.

• Kept 11 league clean sheets (seven away)
• No clean sheet in last three (last 3-0 win vs Woking, 24/03/2018)
• Two clean sheets in last five games 
• Three clean sheets in last seven away games
• Conceded just seven goals in last 11 league games

Orient have pulled themselves clear of the relegation zone into mid table and Edinburgh has made it clear that he wants his side to carry momentum into next season’s campaign. After impressing against the league leaders Edinburgh will be looking for his side to be in that position next season. Speaking to leytonorient.com “A club like ours needs to be up at that top end, the momentum we take in will make the pathway clearer for next year. I am delighted with the players they have been non-stop on the training pitch this week”.

• Scored 32/54 league goals in second half – 11/22 away
• Netted 15 in final 15 minutes of games
• Nine of their last 17 have been in the second half
• Conceded 34/53 league goals in the first half
• Four of their last five conceded in league have been in first half

Hartlepool moved a point nearer safety on Saturday earning a point at promotion chasing Sutton United. Josh Hawkes’s equaliser earned Pools a point in South London after Ross Lafayette put Sutton ahead early on.

• Sit 19th on 49 points
• No win in last three – D1  L2
• Form in last six – W3  D1  L2
• League Record – P43  W12  D13  L18  F49  A61

After battling back to earn a point at Gander Green Lane, midfielder Nicky Featherstone thought his side grew into the game and could have grabbed a winner. Speaking to the northernecho “I think you’d have taken a point after the first ten minutes, it’s a tough place to come, the way they play, they are very direct and a big physical side. We got better as the game went on and I thought in the second half we might go on and nick it”.

• Scored 27/49 in the second half – 12/22 at home
• Four of their last seven have been in the first half
• Failed to score in 14 league games (eight at home)
• Failed in two of their last three games
• Scored in five of their last seven games

After months of turmoil at Victoria Road with ownership issues, there finally appears to be green shoots of recovery. A consortium led by former Darlington owner Raj Singh have taken over the club, instilling former Pool manager Craig Hignett as Director of Football while Matthew Bates will stay in charge till the end of the season. It ended a good month for Pools with the news as Bates won manager of month for March but knows the work has not finished yet.

• Kept eight league clean sheets (four at home)
• No clean sheet in last seven – conceding nine goals
• Only kept one clean sheet in last 23 matches – 0-0 vs Boreham Wood, 10/03/2018
• No clean sheet in last three home games
• Just one in their last 10 at Victoria Road

Sitting just five points above the relegation zone, the next week could prove pivotal to which division the Pools will be playing in next season. Following the visit of Orient on Tuesday, Hartlepool host Torquay on Saturday and results in both could secure their safety. Interim manager Matthew Bates wants his side to build on Saturday’s point on Tuesday night, speaking to hartlepoolunited.co.uk “we’re due a win at home now, we need to do what we’re doing away from home, fight and spirit”. 

• Home League Record – P21  W6  D5  L10  F22  A25
• One win in last five – W1  D1  L3 (win 2-1 vs Bromley, 27/03/2018)
• Only won two home games since mid November – W2  D2  L6 

Hartlepool have struggled at home in 2018 taking just seven points from 24 available and Bates understands that after back to back 1-0 home defeats, his side need to bounce back. Speaking to the Northern Echo “we have conceded two late goals in the last two home games and it’s hard to take, our home form has been terrible”. The crowd at Victoria have got restless in recent games and Bates knows a fast start could be key “it’s so important to start well at home, win your tackles and your battles, then the fans come with you and make it easier”.

• Conceded 39/61 league goals in second half (only Guiseley and Eastleigh 41 have conceded more
• 22 (12 at home) have been in final 15 minutes of games – joint most in league
• Have dropped seven points in that period this season and lost their last two home matches in that period
• Three of their last four games have conceded a goal in final 15 minutes

Team News

Leyton Orient will have to check on the fitness of Josh Koroma after the winger was forced off in the draw with Macclesfield. James Brophy could be a doubt after picking up a knock on Saturday. Alex Lawless returned to the squad on Saturday while Marvin Ekpiteta is set to continue in defence. Josh Coulson and James Dayton are still out through injury but striker Dan Holman could return at Hartlepool.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 20, Draw 9, Hartlepool United 20

Last Meeting – 16/09/2017 – Leyton Orient 1-2 Hartlepool United

The last eight meetings between the sides

• There has not been a drawn between the sides since 05/11/2011 – 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road.
• One draw in the past 15 meetings between sides

Prediction – Hartlepool United 0-2 Leyton Orient