Leyton Orient defender Jamie Turley insists his side only need to concentrate on themselves. The O’s have a three point cushion at the top of the National League ahead of their trip to Hartlepool and Turley is keen for his side to pick up another positive result in the North East. Speaking to East London Advertiser “we are in a great position and it’s all about us, we just need to keep carrying on the way we have been going and keep ticking along. We need to keep it going, keep picking up points and just need to focus on ourselves”/

• Sit 1st on 60 points – three point gap to second
• Won back to back games for first time since December
• League Record – P31  W17  D9  L5  F52  A22
• Four wins in their last six – W4  L2

The O’s head north to Hartlepool after making the FA Trophy quarter finals with a 1-0 home win over Blyth Spartans last weekend. Jamie Turley’s 83th minute header secured victory for Orient with First Team Development Coach Danny Webb delighted his side were able to grind out the win. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it was a good result, it wasn’t a fantastic game or an amazing performance, you would rather that every week winning and not playing particularly well, we’ll take the result”.

Orient’s Last Six Results

Turley arrived at the O’s in January after swapping a relegation battle for a promotion push. The 28 year old has slotted into the O’s defence in the absence of regular center halves Josh Coulson and Marvin Ekpiteta and is building a good partnership with Dan Happe. Speaking to leytonorient.com “I have really enjoyed it so far, it’s a great group of lads and the management and staff are brilliant. Dan’s a great player, great size and we communicate well with when and where we need to be. Hopefully we can carry on with this good partnership and see where it takes us”.

• Kept 14 league clean sheets – five away from home
• Joint best defensive record in division with Wrexham
• Kept back to back clean sheets
• Kept three in their last four
• Kept five in their last seven games in all competitions

The O’s were relegated with Hartlepool back in 2017 from the Football League but have struggled to adapt to life in the fifth tier. Despite the disruption behind the scenes at Victoria Park, Danny Webb highlights his side have to be professional on Saturday. Speaking to East London Advertiser “you always seem to be reading about Hartlepool lately with all the things going on there, it won’t make it any easier. They are an ex League club, like ourselves and they will be looking to get into the play off places even though it will be tough”.

• Failed to score in seven league games
• Scored in their last two games and three of their last four
• Only scored two or more goals in one of their last eight matches

After their progression in the FA Trophy and rearranged fixtures, the O’s will hope to change their recent inconsistent away form around with six of their next eight fixtures on the road. Orient may face some fixture congestion later in the season but despite Saturday’s trip to Hartlepool being only one of only two league fixtures scheulded in February, Webb feels Orient are going well. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we are ticking along nicely, I am sure there will be a period when some game get called off but at the moment the games are on when they should be”.

Orient’s Next Eight Games

Following back to back wins, Orient will be looking to make it three on the bounce at Hartlepool. After a couple of defeats over Christmas, three wins in their last four has seen Orient pick up form and Turley is confident on his side chances on  Saturday. Speaking to East London Advertiser “we will go to Hartlepool and be solid. Hopefully we can win the game and we will set out to win the game I’m sure”.

• Away League Record – P15  W7  D5  L3   F23  A12
• Only Solihull Moors (28) have taken more points away than Orient
• One win in their last five – W1  D1  L3
• Taken just one point from last 12 available in league

Team News

Orient will still be without Josh Koroma, Josh Coulson, Marvin Ekpiteta and James Dayton. First team regulars Macauley Bonne, Craig Clay, Charlie Lee, Jobi McAnuff and Joe Widdowson should return after sitting out the victory over Blyth last week. Jamie Turley and Danny Happe will continue at the heart of the Orient defence.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 20, Draw 10, Hartlepool 21

• Orient haven’t won any of the last three meetings – D1  L2
• The O’s have failed to score in last two meetings
• Orient have only won three of the last nine meetings
• Only one draw in last ten meetings
• Orient have only won one of the their last five trips to Victoria Road – W1  L4

The Last Nine Meetings Between Sides

Last Time Out – 02/02/2019 – Leyton Orient 1-0 Blyth Spartans

Starting 11 vs Blyth Spartans

Prediction – Hartlepool 1-2 Leyton Orient