Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh is hoping his side can bounce back in the FA Trophy on Saturday. The O’s make the trip to North Wales to face Wrexham looking for a response after last weekend’s defeat but acknowledges the test his side await. Speaking to leytonorient.com “I’m really excited, I know the group have been all week. It gives us an opportunity to put things right. It’s a big challenge, we know how tough it was when we went there in the league. We will have to be at our best on Saturday”.

• Sit 1st in National League
• Three defeats in last seven games

Orient head to Wales on the back of a 3-0 home defeat to Salford last Saturday. Carl Pierganni and Rory Gaffney headed Salford into a 2-0 lead after just eight minutes. The O’s tried to find a route back into the game but Pierganni headed his second late on to inflict defeat on Orient. Edinburgh was left frustrated with his side start stating to leytonorient.com “we come up against a good team, good players and an organised team. Once they got that lead they were determined not to give it up. We just couldn’t find any space and became a very frustrating and difficult afternoon”.

Orient’s Last Six Results

The O’s still sit top of the National League and like the other front runners have suffered a recent blip in form with just one win in their last four. Captain Jobi McAnuff acknowledges that a key to any side is reacting from defeats and feels the trip to Wrexham gives them a perfect opportunity. Speaking to East London Advertiser “the big test is not having a run of bad defeats or performances now and that is one of the reasons we are where we are because we have reacted well to a bad result and that is what it is about again”.

• Away Record this Season – P15  W7  D5  L3  F23  A11
• No win in last three – D1  L2
• Last victory – 2-0 at Wrexham , 24/11/2018
• Lost last two away cup games
• Only lost one of their last four trophy away games

Edinburgh was rewarded by his fine work at Orient signing a new two and half year deal on Friday. The 49 year old was delighted to extend his stay in E10 but highlights that his journey is only just starting at the Breyer Group Stadium. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it’s been a fantastic journey, a lot of people have put in an incredible amount of work to lay a real good foundation” He added “what we echo is the need to remain focused now, there are some real exciting games and times ahead, it was an easy decision to sign this extension”.

• Kept 14 clean sheets this season – Five away
• Kept two in last five games – conceding six goals
• Only kept one in last eight cup games
• Kept two in last six away games

The O’s  made it to the 4th Round last season and will be setting their sights further this year. After cruising past Beaconsfield in Round One, the trip to Wrexham is much trickier but defender Joe Widdowson is relishing the challenge. Speaking to East London Advertiser “obviously it will be a good test for us and it is a nice game in a big stadium so it is one we’ll be up for. Everyone is looking forward to this. I am sure they want to beat us but we want to get through as well”.

Orient’s FA Trophy Results

Orient have only lost back to back games once under Justin Edinburgh and McAnuff highlights that it is important to be positive and a run in the trophy can help build momentum for the rest of the season. Speaking to East London Advertiser “this is the second half of the season, all the football is in front of us and we are where we want to be and it is about being positive, carrying momentum and getting back on track as quickly as possible”

• Failed to score in seven games
• Only scored in one of their last three
• Only failed in one of their last eight cup games
• Only scored in one of their last three way games

Team News

Josh Coulson and James Dayton are both out injured while midfielder Craig Clay is a doubt after missing the last three games through injury. Jordan Maguire-Drew should make his first start for Orient against his old club while Dan Happe should start in place of the absence Coulson. Alex Lawless should start in midfield while Edinburgh could hand a start to Matt Harrold and James Alabi.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 13, Draw 11, Wrexham 11

• Orient are unbeaten in the last five meetings – W3  D2
• Have not lost at the Racecourse since 1995, W2  D2
• Have scored in the last five meetings
• Four of the last eight meetings have ended as draws

The Last Nine Meetings Between Sides

Last Time Out – 3-0 home defeat to Salford

Starting 11 vs Salford

Prediction – Wrexham 1-2 Leyton Orient