Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh is relishing the promotion battle at the top of the National League. The O’s head to Barrow tonight looking to take advantage of their game in hand on their promotion rivals ahead of their crunch clash with leaders Wrexham on Saturday.

• Sit 3rd on 64 points – five behind leaders Wrexham
• League Record – P34  W18  D10  L6  F55  A25
• Lost just one of their last six games – W4  D1  L1

Edinburgh is in his second season at the Breyer Group Stadium and at this time last year the season has ended after defeat away at Gateshead in the FA Trophy. With both the league and trophy in their grasps the 43 year old wants his side to enjoy their journey. Speaking ahead of their trip to Barrow to leytonorient.com “let’s enjoy the ride, I’d rather be in the position we are in now than waiting for the season to finish. There is so much to play for, we’re really excited for the next two months of the season”.

Tight at the Top

The O’s made it back to back wins after a 2-1 victory at Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday. Josh Coulson’s header sealed their first away league victory since November after Jordan Maguire-Drew’s strike was cancelled out by Alfie Rutherford. Edinburgh was relieved to see three points again, speaking to leytonorient.com “it was needed to get back to winning ways in the league. It was a tough place to come and a hard fought victory. It was a valuable three points today and one we’re delighted for”.

Orient’s Last Six Results

Edinburgh started with a back three for only the second time this season at Havant & Waterlooville with the return for Marvin Ekpiteta and Josh Coulson. The O’s struggled with a back three earlier in the season but the former Newport manager like the change of system. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we needed to get our best players in the team, three center backs are all back, Josh and Marv are now fit while Dan Happe’s been immense since he’s come in, there was no chance I was leaving him out. I thought we looked good for periods today, I liked the shape we won the game and I liked what I saw”

• Kept 14 league clean sheets (five away)
• Joint best defensive record in league – conceded just 25 goals
• No clean sheet in last four
• Two in last six games – last (2/2/19 – Orient 1-0 Blyth Spartans)
• Kept just on in last six league games

Midfielder Jordan Maguire-Drew continued his recent good from grabbing his second goal for the club. The 21 year old was played in a more central role at Havant and is starting to have an impact on games. Speaking to leytonorient.com “I am just starting to find my feet and show the fans what I can do. I want to keep this spot and we want to start a winning run now and hopefully we can take that into Tuesday against Barrow and go from there”.

• Maguire-Drew has been involved in two of Orient last three goals
• Maguire -Drew been involved in 3 of Orient’s ten goals since his debut

The O’s had to battle to grab the three points on Saturday and Maguire-Drew highlights his side will have to do the ugly side of the game to maintain their challenge at the top of the table. Speaking to leytonorient.com “at times we do have to scrap and we do have to fight because it’s not always going to be pretty football. We just wanted to get three points and get back on the road on Tuesday and do the same”.

• Away League Record – P17  W8  D6  L3  F26  A14
• Best Defensive Record
• Back to back away wins first time since November
• Unbeaten in last three games
• Only lost one in last six games – W3  D2  L1

It is a crucial week for Orient who with a win tonight can go within two points of leaders Wrexham ahead of their televised clash on Saturday. After leading the league for three months of the season, the O’s are now the chasers but Edinburgh explains they can only affect what they do. Speaking to leytonorient.com “I have always said, as long as it is our own hands that’s all we can do. What anyone else does, we can’t affect. All we can affect is us, today was the most important one, we won that, the attention on focus goes to Barrow”.

• Failed to score in eight league games – (three away)
• Scored in five of their last six games
• Scored in last three away games and four of their last five games
• Scored two or more in consecutive games for first time since December

Tuesday’s trip to Barrow is the first of five midweek fixtures before the end of the season but with consecutive victories, Maguire-Drew is hoping having a busy fixture list can help his side. Speaking to leytonorient.com “when games come thick and fast and we’re notching up the wins, it becomes a habit and that’s what we want”. He added “we have a lot of games in a short space of time so if we can keep that winning mentality and keep being positive with each other and getting positive outcomes, everyone is going to be happy”.

Orient’s March Fixtures

Team News

Defender Myles Judd is out with a hamstring injury while Josh Koroma is still returning from injury. Edinburgh could name an unchanged side for the trip to Barrow but Matt Harrold is pushing for a start. Winger James Dayton could return to the squad after recovering from injury.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 4, Draw 3, Barrow

Last Meeting – 11/08/2018 – Leyton Orient 2-2 Barrow

• Orient have scored in the past eight meetings between sides
• Orient are unbeaten in the last six meetings – W3  D3
• Both teams have scored in all three National League meetings

The Last Eight Meetings Between Sides

Last Time Out – 2/3/2019 – Havant & Waterlooville 1-2 Leyton Orient

Orient Starting 11 vs Havant & Waterlooville

Prediction – Barrow 1-2 Leyton Orient