Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh is relishing a trip to Salford City and insists it is about what his side do. The 48 year old takes his O’s side North hoping to start the season with maximum points, speaking to leytonorient.com “We are fully aware, we have done as much work on them but I always believe it is about us, we have got a very good group of players. It will be a tough task but one we are looking forward to. It’s about the game not the occasion“.

• Orient failed to win any of their five televised matches last season – D1  L4

The O’s head to Salford on the back of a good pre season campaign, battling back twice in a 2-2 draw with Southend last Saturday. MacAuley Bonne and James Alabi both netted in the draw with Edinburgh pleased with the performance. Speaking to leytonorient.co.uk “everything apart from the finer details was there today, it was a really good performance. We have been pleased with pre-season and it has gone how we expected it to, the players have produced what we have asked of them and the fitness looks good”

Orient’s Pre Season Results

Saturday’s trip, pits Orient against the bookies favourites for the title, Salford. It has been well documented about the financial backing Graham Alexander’s men have had this summer. However, midfielder Alex Lawless is not fazed by the occasion and insists his side know what their intentions will be come Saturday. Speaking to East London Advertiser “it is a surprise the pressure will be on them more than us I would say from what you hear is going on. The first game is one everyone looks forward to and whether they are favourites or not, it is a game we will approach to win”.

• Macauley Bonne top scorer last season – 22 league goals – 38% of team’s goals

The O’s ended last season in 13th place with Edinburgh guiding the East Londoners out of a potential relegation scrap. The former Newport man insisted on keeping momentum up to take in this season, speaking to nationalleague.org.uk ” I’ll be honest I didn’t want the season to end. I came here on the last day on November. I’d had my break. I was just getting back into the swing of things”.

League Table from when Edinburgh took over last season

Orient have only brought in two summer recruits in: Dale Gorman (Stevenage) and James Alabi (Tranmere) to add to the squad. After recruiting well in January, Edinburgh revealed to nationalleague.org.uk “We didn’t have too much work to do in May and June. We knew we were keeping most players and just added a few.” He added “They showed real consistency last season and I enjoyed working with them for those five months. I felt big changes weren’t required and now they need to show me why we stuck with them”

A result in the North West would lay down a marker to their promotion rivals. Saturday’s game kicks offs the National League campaign with the BT Sport cameras in attendance and O’s defender Josh Coulson stated to East London Advertiser “it is a massive game between two very big clubs in this league and I am sure there will be a good atmosphere. We will go about our business and concentrate on ourselves” He added “hopefully we can get a result and we can play in front of a big crowd too and show what we’re about”

• Orient have only lost one of their last five competitive away matches (1-0 vs Hartlepool, 
• Only lost three of 12 away league matches under Edinburgh – W6  D3  L3

Team News

Striker Matt Harrold and midfielder Dale Gorman are nearing full fitness but will not be ready for Saturday. Winger Josh Koroma should overcome his injury to be fit but head coach Justin Edinburgh faces a tough decision on his starting 11.

Speaking to leytonorient.com on the potential 11 “It is a tough test for me to get right, every player will feel they deserve a place in the starting line up come Saturday. There are decisions to be made which will be made for the best of the team to get a result. There will be some disappointed boys Saturday but it’s not about Saturday, it’s about the duration of the season”

Starting 11 vs Southend Last Weekend – Brill, Ling, Coulson, Elokobi, Widdowson, Dayton, Lee, Lawless, McAnuff, Alabi, Bonne