Football Analyst

Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh insists their is no magic formula to turn their troubles around but stated to leytonorient.com “we can’t be carrying any players at present. We need to win each and every individual battle on the pitch”

• Sit 20th on 21 points – just three points above relegation zone
• League Record – P23  W5  D6  L12  F27  A40
• Only Solihull (41) have conceded more
• Only Torquay (13) and Solihull (15) have lost more games
• Form in last six – W0  D2  L4  F5  A11

Edinburgh took over nine days ago but saw his side increase their winless run to 15 games after a 1-0 defeat to Solihull Moors last weekend. Liam Daly’s second half header sent Orient to a tenth defeat in their last 15 games. Speaking to leytonorient.com post match Edinburgh stated “I am bitterly disappointed, certainly with the result. I expected more today in terms of commitment and aggression”.

• No win in last 15 league games
• One win in last 18 games all competitions – W1  D6  L11
• Conceded two or more in 12 of last 15 games

Table of last 15 league games

With a full week on the training pitch, Edinburgh has had some time to implement his ideas to the players and something which he looked forward to. “I made it clear to the players, the importance of the task ahead, not fear it but embrace it. It is about organisation and getting my ideas across. The only way you get results is to work hard”.

• Kept just three league clean sheets (one at home)
• No clean sheet in last 16 league games and one in their last 18 league games
• Two in last 18 in all competitions (Dagenham FA Cup)
• Last League clean sheet Maidenhead, 1-0, 28/08/17

The former Northampton boss accepts that the players have to take responsibility and not shy away from it. Speaking to East London Advertiser “you can’t hide away from it and after Solihull I said to the players there is no hiding. A relegation battle is what we are in. Our form tells you that and the clubs underneath are getting results but I would expect three or four games down the line my impact will turn us around”.

• Conceded 26/39 league goals in first half
• Conceded ten between 1-5 minutes – most in league
• Conceded ten between 31-45 minutes – 2nd most in league
• No team conceded two or more goals in more matches than Orient – 14/23
• In 14 of the 15 games Orient conceded first, goal has been in the first half

Tomorrow’s game with Sutton will be Edinburgh first in charge at Brisbane Road and something he has looked forward to since he signed his contract. Speaking to leytonorient.com “I am really excited about it, the first home game is always a special one. I look forward to taking it in to the dug our against the league leaders”.

Justin Edinburgh’s first 10 league results at past three clubs

Despite facing the leaders, Edinburgh stated “what better place is there to get my first win than at home against the league leaders. I look forward and face the challenge head on”. Orient lost 2-0 at Gander Green Lane on the opening day but the 47 year old feels that it is “one we look to win, in front of our home fans, we respect them for being top, no game is going to be easy, it doesn’t matter where any club is”.

• Home League Record – P11  W3  D3  L5  F15  A16
• Only Chester (18) and Solihull (21) have conceded more
• Only the bottom four have worse home records than Orient
• No win in last seven home league games – D2  L5 (drew last two)
• One win in last eight in all competitions (Dagenham, 1-0 FA Cup, 17/10/17)
• Last home league win – 4-1 vs Guiseley, 02/09/17

Edinburgh’s side were backed by over 500 fans at Solihull last weekend, and the new Orient head coach understands the frustration of the fans. Speaking to East London Advertiser “they stuck with us for long periods but they are hurting. They expect better and they deserve better and doubt this club should not be in the position it is in right now. I think the fans have been very patient and supportive”.

• Failed to score in seven games (three at home)
• Failed in their last two games
• Scored in their last two home games
• No team in National League trailed for more minutes than Orient (983)
• Trailed in 16 of their last 18 matches

Sutton United arrive in E10 joint top of the National League, looking to build on back to back wins over Halifax and Eastleigh. The U’s victory over Eastleigh was their 12th win of the season and came courtesy of Tom Balarinwa and Tommy Wright.

• Sit 1st on 42 points
• League Record – P23  W12  D6  L5  F33  A25
• Joint most games won in League
• Joint least games lost in league
• Form in last six – W4  D0  L2  F9  A4

Manager Paul Doswell praised the quality of his squad after a tough time with injuries. Speaking to SUFCTV “I think the players deserve an enormous amount of credit, we’ve had two tough games, Halifax and Eastleigh, both very physical teams. We coped with that and to come out with six points” He added “I thought last week’s result at Guiseley with in essence 13 players, you have got to look at the squad and say well done”.

• Only lost one of their last 12 league games – W6   D5  L1
• Loss came at home 1-0 vs Torquay, 21/11/17
• Only lost two of their last 14 games in all competitions – W7  D5  L2

Sutton dominated the first half last weekend but only managed to go in at half time 1-0, a score line which always concerns Doswell, “it is always a worry at 1-0, they didn’t look like they would open us up at any point. It was more of a worry on set pieces and balls into the box but we handled it well today. When we had the amount of chances we had, you never feel comfortable”. However, a huge positive was “two successive clean sheets which is really important”.

• Kept seven league clean sheets (four away)
• Back to back Clean sheets for second time this season vs Halifax and Eastleigh
• Four clean sheets in last six league games
• Not conceded a league goal for 260 minutes
• Last time kept three consecutive clean sheets – April 2016 in National League North

Midfielder Simon Walton felt his side made it more difficult than it should have been against Eastleigh but was pleased with the professional nature of victory. Speaking to SUFCTV “we certainly deserved all three points, we are delighted as we knew second half they would come out, we weathered the storm and got the second goal” He added “sometimes in games we dominated first half, it can bite you back but we were professional in the second without being pretty at times and we got the job done”

• Only failed to score in five league games (two away)
• Scored in four of their last five games
• Scored in their last five away league games and ten of their last 11 on the road in league
• Scored two or more goals in 12/23 games – joint most in league
• Last failed to score away in League, 2-0 vs Woking, 12/09/17

Despite sitting joint top, Doswell is keen for his side to keep their feet on the ground ensuring they hit their initial pre season targets. Speaking to SUFCTV “we have always maintained that 54 points is needed first, we all accept that, then you look at our next target to finish in the top seven”. With just two points separating the top four Doswell acknowledges that one or two defeats, they can easily slip down the league.

• Last season, It took Sutton until February to reach 41 points – 32 games
• Only Macclesfield (727) have led for longer in league (687)

With Sutton continually building as a club, the former Eastleigh manager insists that “we have put ourselves in a great position to be in the mix  which is important. We have tough games coming up against Orient away and Boreham Wood who are a decent side. We still take it game by game, we have given ourselves a real shot to be in the mix”.

• Away League Record – P11  W6  D3  L2  F15  A10
• Only Macclesfield (25) have taken more points away than Sutton
• Unbeaten in their last five away league games
• One loss in last seven away in all competitions – Cambridge 1-0,FA Cup 07/11/17
• Last away league defeat – 2-0 vs Woking, 16/09/17

Doswell has overseen the rise of Sutton from Ryman Premier League to the top of National League and stated to SUFCTV “it is an incredible thing for this club to go to Orient as probably the favourites. It would be justified on the current league position, we are going to enjoy it. The club is onto something special”.

• Scored 19/33 league goals in first half
• Scored ten between 31-45 minutes – only Boreham Wood (12) scored more
• Scored 19/33 at the end of both halves – including nine between 76-90 (only Dagenham 12 have scored more)
• 66% of their away goals have come in first half, all second half come in last 15 minutes of matches

Team News

Leyton Orient will still be without defenders Jake Caprice and Jamie Sendles-White as they continue their suspension. Goalkeeper Dean Brill looks set to continue in goal after making his first appearance in two and half years at Solihull. Midfielder Freddy Moncur could be included after his loan spell at Bishops Stortford ended. Alex Lawless is back after recovering from a groin injury but defender Josh Coulson and George Elokobi are nearing  return.

Sutton midfielder Kenny Davis is struggling with a hamstring injury which forced him off in last week’s win over Eastleigh. Craig Eastmond looks set to make his first start since mid October. Dean Beckwith and Aswad Thomas are back in contention after returning from injury but Alfie Egan has returned to Wimbledon after his loan ended.

Prediction – Leyton Orient 1-1 Sutton United

Leyton Orient midfielder James Dayton highlights the importance of doing the dirty side of the game ahead of their trip to Solihull tomorrow. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we need to do the horrible side of the game first, if we do that then hopefully it will allow us to play the football we know we can play”.

• Sit 20th on 21 points 
• League Record – P22  W5  D6  L11  F27  A39
• Only Torquay (13) and Solihull (15) have lost more games
• Only Solihull (41) have conceded more goals

Dayton knows that his side have to bounce back from the defeat at Torquay but acknowledges it won’t be easy against another relegation rival. “It will be another difficult game, a game where we will have to fight, show aggression and earn the right to play”. After having their first session with their new head coach Justin Edinburgh on Thursday, Dayton pointed out the importance of “implementing what we have done this week on Saturday and put right the performance from last Saturday”.

• Away League Record – P11  W2  D3  L6  F12  A23
• Joint most goals conceded away with Guiseley
• No win in last nine away in all competitions – D4  L5
• Drew three of last six away (all 2-2)
• Last away win , 1-0 vs Maidenhead, 28/08/17

Edinburgh was named on Wednesday as Orient’s new head coach, the former Newport County boss stated to leytonorient.com “I am delighted, I am really happy with the opportunity to come and work for Orient in be in a position to work with this group of players to try and move them up league. But first and foremost, move in the right direction”.

• No win in last 14 league games
• Only won one of their last 17 games in all competitions – W1  D6  L10
• Trailed in 15 of their last 17 games
• No team in National League has trailed for more minutes – 951 minutes

Edinburgh left Northampton after just four games of this season in August but is raring to go at Brisbane Road. Speaking to BBC London on Wednesday evening, “the break has done me the world of good. It has sharpened my teeth and made me hungrier. I still feel young and ambitious and feel I am the right fit”.

• Conceded two or more in last seven away league games
• Conceded two or more in 12 of last 14 league games
• No team in National League conceded two or more goals in more games than Orient, 14/22 games

Edinburgh and his O’s will be looking to end their 14 game winless run at Solihull Moors on Tuesday and bounce back from their heavy 3-0 defeat at Torquay last weekend. With Edinburgh’s appointment, Ross Embleton has stepped back to assistant coach and admitted to leytonorient.com “it has been a busy period in the build up to this week. It is a new experience of me, I am happy and a little bit relieved a new manager has finally been appointed”.

• Only led for 57 minutes since 3rd September

Record from last 14 games

Embleton took the reigns for three games and highlighted to leytonorient.com “the biggest thing I have learnt this season is you can’t take anything for granted. Last week at Torquay taught me a hell of a lot, you need to stay on top of standards”. Embleton revealed that at times this season his side have lacked “commitment, application and that desire to tackle, we need to have that edge and take it into every game”.

• Kept just three clean sheets (two away ) – Only Solihull kept less (1)
• Without a clean sheet in last 15 league games (worst run since 2004 in League)
• Only kept one clean sheet in league in last 17 games
• Kept two clean sheets in last 17 games in all competitions (both vs Dagenham, FA Cup)

Tomorrow’s clash will be Orient’s third consecutive game against their relegation rivals, so far picking up just one point. New head coach Justin Edinburgh stated to the East London Advertiser “it is a game we have to win and we can’t go there thinking anything else will do. I want a good start but also we want to be able to give the fans a performance they can be proud of “.

• Failed to score in six league games (three away)
• Scored in four of their last five league games
• Scored in five of their last six away games 
• Scored 16/27 league goals in second
• Scored nine of those in final 15 minutes of games

Sitting just three points above the relegation zone, Embleton knows that “they can’t underestimate them “tomorrow. Speaking to leytonorient.com on Solihull, “they have pace at the top end of the pitch and we think they will be aggressive trying to get the ball behind us. But we have identified a few areas they are vulnerable”. He added “we have to recognise and respect what the opposition are about but we have to make sure we home in on what we’re about”.

• Conceded 26/39 league goals in first half (most in league)
• Conceded ten between 1-15 minutes – most in league
• Conceded ten between 31-45 minutes – second most
• All 14 games conceded first in, goal has been in first half

Solihull Moors head into tomorrow’s crunch clash with Orient on the back of a 1-1 home draw with Gateshead last weekend. Jordan Burrow put Gateshead ahead from the spot but after Russell Penn was sent off, Solihull began searching for an equaliser. Mark Yates’s men did level through Will Atkinson in the second half.

• Sit 24th on 13 points – eight points from safety
• League Record – P22  W3  D4  L15  F20  A41
• No team lost as many games as Solihull
• Form in last six (all comps) – W0  D2  L4  F2  A11

Manager Yates is the Moors third manager of the season after Liam MacDonald and Richard Money had departed. Yates has overseen two draws and one defeat so far and was pleased with his sides response to falling a goal behind. Speaking to solihullmoorsfc.co.uk “I’m delighted with the effort the players showed. I can’t fault them for effort”.

• Winless in last five league games and just one win in last 14 league games
• Kept just one clean sheet in league (least amount in league)
• No clean sheet in last 14 league games 
• No clean sheet in last 17 games in all competitions
• Last league clean sheet, 2-0 vs Chester, 05/09/17

However despite playing against ten men for 52 minutes, Solihull could not force a winner. Yates highlighted where his side need to improve “we lacked a little bit of belief and creativity in the final third, if we just anticipated in that final third, there’s a couple of tap in’s, but we didn’t”.

• Home league record – P11  W1  D3  L7  F10 A21 – worst record in league
• Conceded the most and scored the least
• No win in last nine home games – D3  L6
• Only won one of last 13 home games all season 
• Only win vs Chester, 2-0, 05/09/17

With the Moors sitting rock bottom, Yates is aware that his side will need to improve in attacking areas if they are to move up the league, “we lacked that killer pass, that killer instinct and that decision making in the final third is just not where we want to be at the moment”.

• Failed to score in nine games (five at home)
• Only Guiseley (6) have failed to score in more home games
• Failed to score in three of last four home games
• Failed to score in three of last five league games

Yates’s is in his third week in charge at Solihull and is seeing signs of improvement, “there’s green shoots for us to see and positives to for us to build on”. He added “we have got to start somewhere. We have given ourselves again a little base to build on but we cannot keep saying that otherwise we will be in a position where we can’t get ourselves out of it”.

• Only scored two or more goals in six of 22 league games
• Scored 14/20 league goals in second half – six of last eight league goals
• Trailed for 897 minutes in league – second most in league
• Trailed for 48% of home league games so far this season

With their next two games against their relegation rivals, Yates highlights that Saturday’s clash with Orient is “the most important game of the season so far. Every game we play is a six pointer. Leyton Orient are a massive club but they are on a bad run. We have put in three  good performances recently but our game Saturday needs to be tip top”.

• Conceded most goals in League
• Conceded 21/41 league goals in second half
• Conceded 14 in final 15 minutes of games (eight at home) – most in league
• Dropped seven points (from five games) in final 15 minutes

Team News

Leyton Orient duo MacAuley Bonne is back from suspension for the trip to Solihull but defender Jake Caprice will serve his ban after his red card at Torquay last weekend. Jamie Sendles-White will serve another two game suspension after being charge with misconduct on Friday. Goalkeeper Charlie Grainger is in contention after coming off injury at Torquay while midfielder Alex Lawless is a doubt after struggling with  groin injury.

Solihull Moors injury list is non existent according to Mark Yates “I am happy to report that we have no injury problems and in fact Sean St Ledger is back in training which is good”. Jamey Osborne is eligible to play after joining on a one month loan deal from Grimsby Town on Friday afternoon.

Head to Head 

Only one previous meeting – 08/08/17 – Leyton Orient 3-1 Solihull Moors

Prediction – Solihull Moors 2-2 Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient midfielder Jobi McAnuff insists his side are in a good place and are confident of ending their run for a league win at Torquay. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it will be a tough game, our third in a week, we are back playing at level we are capable of doing. If we maintain our level, the wins will start coming”

• Sit 20th on 21 points – three above the relegation zone
• League Record- P21  W5  D6  L10  F27  A36
• Only Solihull (40) have conceded more goals
• Only Torquay (13) and Solihull (15) have lost more games

The O’s head to Devon on the back of their second consecutive draw on Tuesday night. Macauley Bonne gave Orient the lead before James Akintunde and Ross Hannah put Chester ahead before the break. Jamie Sendles-White was sent off for two cautions but Hannah’s penalty was saved before  McAnuff earned a draw in the second half.

• Failed to score in five league games (two away)
• Scored in last four
• Scored in last five away in league and eight of last nine away
• Last failed to score away in League, 2-0 vs Boreham Wood, 09/09/17

The draw extends Orient’s winless run in the league to 13 games and interim head coach Ross Embleton is hoping a win is coming at Torquay. Speaking to East London Advertiser “we need a win on Saturday, it has been a long time since we’ve felt that feeling”. He continued “it is no good picking up one point, we need to turn draws into wins”.

• One win in last 16 in all competitions – W1  D6  L9 (Dagenham, 1-0, 17/10/17) 
• Conceded two or more in 11 of last 13 league games

Record in last 13 games

Despite feeling disappointed after the draw on Tuesday, Embleton revealed after a few days to reflect it was a good point. Speaking to leytonorient.com “now with emotion away from the game, I realise a point in the circumstances did turn out to be a good one. With everything that went against us on the night, it was a good point”.

• Kept three league clean sheets (two away) – Only Solihull (1) kept less
• No clean sheet in last 14 league games and just one in last 16 league games
• Last league clean sheet – 1-0 vs Maidenhead, 28/08/17
• Two clean sheets in last 16 games in all competitions (both vs Dagenham in FA Cup)
• No clean sheet in last six away league games

Tuesday’s draw was the first time Orient have taken the lead in six games and McAnuff highlights it was something that was spoken about before. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we try and put an emphasis on getting in the lead. No what level you play at or what opposition, if you let teams get a goal up, they will sit behind the ball and make it difficult”.

• Only led for 57 minutes since 2nd September (13 league games)
• Last four goals which took the lead, lead last no longer than 14 minutes

Embleton revealed to East London Advertiser “we want to be on the front foot and see out games, going to get a second and third goal to seal the points”. The O’s did fight back for the second consecutive game to earn a point and he revealed “if we continue to show this fighting spirit and attitude then we’ll start moving in the right direction”.

• All 13 games they have conceded first, goal has been in first half
• Trailed in 14 of their 16 league games
• Trailed for 876 minutes (420 away) – most in league
• Trailed for 729 minutes in last 13 league games – average of 56 minutes a game

Tomorrow’s clash with Torquay is Orient’s second of three fixtures against sides below them in the league and Embleton revealed that at soon as Tuesday’s game finished, his focus shifted straight to the Gulls. Speaking to leytonorient.com “they had a good result the other night, we have to be wary”. Embleton has played 4-5-1 in the last two games but highlighted “at the forefront of my mind is even if we set up a team difficult to play against, we still look to try create chances, score goals and win”.

• Conceded 24/36 league goals in first half – most in league
• Last five goals conceded been in first half
• Conceded nine between 1-15 minutes – most in league 
• Conceded ten between 31-45 minutes – second most in league
• Conceded two or more in last six away league games

It will be his first away game in charge and he feels that his game plan is suitable for collecting three precious points tomorrow, “Going away gives a different focus and you can at times play your way in. You can find a way of creating in a different manner”. He added “we have got a game plan together to try and combat what they will do and what they have been about. I think I have come up with something that will get the points” 

• Away League Record – P10  W2  D3  L5  F12  A20
• Only Guiseley (23) and Torquay (21) conceded more away
• No win in last eight away games – D4  L4
• Longest winless run away since 2006
• Drew three of last five away games – all 2-2
• Last away league win – Maidenhead 1-0, 28/08/17

Torquay head into tomorrow’s clash with Orient on the back of a 1-0 away win at Sutton United on Tuesday night. Ruairi Keating headed his fourth of the season to give the Gulls all three points.

• Sit 23rd on 14 points – seven from safety
• League Record – P21  W3  D5  L13  F18  A34
• Only Solihull (14) have lost more games
• Form in last six (all comps) – W2  D1  L3  F3  A6

Manager Gary Owers was delighted with response from his side on Tuesday after three consecutive defeats. Speaking to torquayunited.com he stated “I had a bit of a pop at the lads on Saturday and asked for a response and asked for them to show me some resilence, spirit and fight. We showed that in abundance tonight, it was a really, really hard working, dare I say it, ugly win”.

• First win in four on Tuesday
• Two wins in last eight – both away from home
• Scored 12/18 goals in first half of games
• Including six in first 15 minutes of games – joint most with Maidstone

After no win in their opening 13 league games, Torquay have started to pick up under Owers who was appointed back in September. The former Bath City boss was happy that his side got what they deserved at Sutton, “we’ve played some good stuff over the weeks but I felt like we haven’t had the reward that some of our performances warranted. Tonight, we got our reward for working really hard”.

• Took just four point from possible 39 at start of season
• Since start of October taken ten from possible 21
• Owers League Record – P11  W3  D2  L6
• Taken 11/16 league points

Keating’s goal at Sutton was his first in 16 games and is hoping that his side can build on the win. Speaking to torquayunited.com “it was a great win, a massive three points for us, we dug in from the first minute to the last minute and got our rewards”. Sitting second bottom, Keating acknowledged “the position we are in, we are scrapping for everything, it’s a difficult position to be in, nobody wants to be in it. The performance on Tuesday is definitely a big step up and step in the right direction”

• League Lowest scorers with 18
• Failed to score in nine league games (six at home) – only Guiseley and Tranmere (10) failed in more
• Failed to score in three of their last four games
• Keating’s goal first goal in 308 minutes of league football
• Only scored in one of last six home league matches

All three of the Gulls wins have been on Tuesday nights and Owers is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of the Orient game on Saturday, “I am really pleased but I am trying to keep a level head because we haven’t done anything yet. We have been here before, I don’t know what it is we seem to do well in the dark”.

• Kept five clean sheets (three at home)
• Kept two in last seven league games
• One in last five home league games (none in last three)
• Last home clean sheet 3/10/17, 4-0 vs Maidenhead

With only one win at home all season, Owers highlights exactly where his side need to improve if they are to start climbing up the league. “We are going into two home games now. I have been disappointed with our home form and I hope that we can go back to Plainmoor and make some progress up the league by collecting some points at home”.

• Home league record – P10  W1  D3  L6  F8  A13
• Only Solihull (5) have taken less points at home
• Lost last three home games and four of the last five at Plainmoor
• Last win 4-0 vs Maidenhead, 3/10/17

With just seven points separating the sides, Keating knows that beating one of the rivals will help them climb the league. “I am looking forward to it, it will be a massive game. Obviously they are down there with us aswell, to beat them and keep climbing will go a long way. They are a big side and it will be a good game”.

• Conceded 25/34 league goals in 2nd half – most in league
• Conceded nine between minutes 46-60 – most in league
• Conceded 11 between minutes 76-90 (Only Solihull 14 conceded more in this period
• If games ended on 75 minutes, Torquay would be five points better off

Team News

Leyton Orient will be without top scorer Macauley Bonne who will serve a one game suspension after picking up his fifth booking on Tuesday. Defender Jamie Sendles-White is also suspended after being sent off on Tuesday night. Midfielder James Brophy has been recalled by Swindown from his loan spell and is not availble. New loan signing Bondz N’Gala could start in place of Sendles-White after he joined from Dagenham & Redbridge on a one month loan deal. George Elokobi, Charlie Lee and Josh Coulson remain side lined through injury.

Torquay will be hopeful that striker Guy Gnabouyou gains international clearance to play after he joined this week. Recent loan signing Alex Davey is set to continue in defence with captain Josh Gowling expected to be out through injury. Jake Gosling and George Dowling are still out through injury.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 34, Draw 20, Torquay 30 

• Last meeting – 12/12/2006 – Leyton Orient 1-2 Torquay United, FA Cup
• Orient not won the last three meetings
• Orient have only won one of the last seven meetings
• Only one of the last five wins in the fixture has been by the away side
• Seven of the last ten meetings at Plainmoor have ended in a draw – Orient 1, Draw 7, Torquay 2

The Last Seven meetings between sides

Prediction – 

Leyton Orient’s interim head Coach Ross Embleton knows that Saturday’s point against Dover Athletic means nothing if they fail to beat Chester City at Brisbane Road tomorrow. Speaking to the East London Advertiser, Embleton stated “it’s only a good point if we can get three on Tuesday, we need make sure we keep building”.

• Sit 19th on 20 points – three points above relegation zone
• League Record – P20 W5  D5  L10  F25  A34
• Only Solihull Moors (39) have conceded more goals
• Only Torquay (13) and Solihull (14) have lost more games

Despite the draw with the league leaders, the O’s stretched their winless run to 12 games with Embleton hoping that they can finally grab a win on Tuesday. Craig Clay earned the O’s a deserved point, stroking home 12 minutes from time after Nortei Nortey had given Dover a first half lead.

• In all competitions only one win in last 15 games – W1  D5  L9
• Worst winless run since 2004
• Last League win – 2nd September , 4-1 vs Guiseley
• Last 12 games, trailed for 699 minutes, average of 58 minutes

Form in last 12 league games

Embleton took charge for the first time after Steve Davis was dismissed last Tuesday after a poor run of form. He highlighted to leytonorient.com about the game plan he decided to go with “we were conscious of how many early goals we have let in, we wanted to be quite solid in the first half. However we switched off in the box and it was disappointing to let their goal in” .

• Home league Record – P10  W3  D2  L5  F13  A14
• No win in last six league games – losing five
• One win in last seven home league games – W1  D1  L5
• One win in last six home games all comps – Dagenham, FA Cup 1-0, 17/10/17

It was the fifth consecutive league game Orient conceded the first goal but Embleton praised his sides reaction “the boys reacted from the goal and most importantly in the second half we really gave it a go, we showed that we had that enthusiasm, we had that bit between the teeth to get back into the game”

• All 13 games conceded first goal, goal has been in first half
• Trailed in 13 of their last 15 games
• No team in League has trailed for more minutes than Orient – 856
• Record when conceding first – W1  D4  L8

Goalkeeper Sam Sargeant replaced Charlie Grainger after he was injured in the warm up and was happy with his first involvement of the season. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it’s always frustrating, you train every day, I have been patient, I like to think I train hard. I was happy to come in and get a positive result”. He added “I just had to forget everything and focus on the game, I had my first thing to do after the first minute and I am glad I warmed up well enough”.

• Kept three clean sheets in league (only Solihull (1) kept less)
• Only kept one league clean sheet home in ten games
• No clean sheet in last 13 league games and only one in last 15 league games
• One clean sheet in last nine home games (Dagenham, 17/10/17)

Sargeant who has played second fiddle to Grainger so far this season felt a point was the least his side deserved and praised his side battling till the end, “we have not been in the best of form and to come away with a point, it was the least we deserved and we could have nicked it at the end”. He added “we kept fighting till the end, we did it against Eastleigh earlier in the season, got a 93rd minute equaliser. We did the same today”.

• Scored 15/25 league goals in the second half
• Netted nine in the final 15 minutes of matches (joint most with Dagenham and Aldershot)
• Earned three draws with goals in the final 15 minutes

After being at the club from a young age, Embleton highlighted to eastlondonadvertiser that it was a proud moment for not only himself but his family aswell. “I’m extremely proud, my mum and dad were at the ground along with the rest of my family. It means a hell of a lot because this club has been part of our lives”.

• Conceded two or more in ten of their last 12 league games
• Failed to score in five league games (three at home)
• Scored in last four league games
• Scored in nine of last ten league games

Orient have not achieved back to back positive league results since September with Embleton keen for his side to build on the draw on Saturday. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we need to build on today, we have had one or two this season when we earned a point and we haven’t built on it. We need to make sure it becomes a good point on Tuesday”.

• Conceded 22/34 league goals in the first half – most in league
• Conceded eight in first 15 minutes – most in league
• Conceded nine between 31-45 minutes – second most in league

Chester City arrive in E10 on the back of a 1-1 draw away at Bromley on Saturday. Marcus Bignot’s men took the lead through Ross Hannah on the quarter hour mark however they conceded just a minute later with Luke Wanadio levelling for Bromley.

• Sit 21st on 17 points – two points from safety
• League Record – P20  W3  D8  L9  F19  A30
• Only Torquay (17) have scored less goals in league
• Form in last six (all comps) – W1  D2  L3  F7  A9
• Last win vs Barrow (3-2), 24/10/17

Chester are already on their second manager of the season after Jon McCarthy was sacked in early September. Bignot was appointed but they still sit in the bottom four however the former Solihull Moors manager praised his sides performance at Bromley. Speaking to chesterchronicle.co.uk “you only have to look at where Bromley are in the league. It was always going to be a difficult game but you have got to give credit to our players who acquitted themselves really well again”.

• Without a win in last four games
• Only one win in last eight league games – W1  D3  L4
• Only won two games since 26th August – W2  D5   L8

Ross Hannah netted his first of the season for City on Saturday and Bignot highlighted the impact of several of his players. “I was delighted for Harry White but we are disappointed to lose him now because he was back to the man we all know. Ross Hannah we knew it was a matter of time before he scored”. He added “things were going well, we got the setback with Harry, it knocked our momentum a bit but to every single player today, they have been a credit to the club”.

• Away league record – P10  W1  D5  L4  F9  A16
• No win in last eight league away games – D4  L4
• One win in last 14 away league games – W1  D5  L8
• Last away win, 2-1 vs Aldershot, 26/08/17
• Drew three of last four away league games (tranmere 0-0, Eastleigh 2-2, Bromley 1-1)

Chester had to survive some Bromley pressure in the second half but Bignot was happy that the performance got the result it deserved, “we were comfortable coming in at half time, in terms of how we went about our business. Second half they applied the pressure but we stood up to it and that was real positive for us”. He added “we got the result we deserved today, if  we continue to work hard and we will get our just rewards”.

• Kept three clean sheets in league (only Solihull 1 kept less)
• No Clean sheet in last six league games
• Last clean sheet – Tranmere 0-0 Chester, 07/10/17
• One clean sheet in last nine games all competitions
• One away clean sheet away all season  – one in last 13 away league games

Chester’s squad has been decimated by injury with Bignot describing this week as “an absolute challenging week for us”. He continued “we travelled on the day today and we will travel on the day against Orient, then we have an early kick off on Saturday. It is really going to test our squad. We are down to the bare bones”.

• Failed to score in eight league games (four away)
• Scored in four of last six league games
• Failed to score in four of last seven away league games

With the injuries mounting up at the Deva Stadium, Bignot is keen to highlight “the squad today and the travelling supporters today can only be proud of what we put on today. You are only ever as strong as your bench and the environment we create can only be as good as the people in the stand”. He added “the group is coming together, that’s five performances on the bounce”.

Team News

Leyton Orient striker Matt Harrold will be pushing for a start after impressing off the bench against Dover Athletic. Sam Sargeant could continue in goal with the extent of Charlie Grainger’s injury unknown. Charlie Lee, Josh Coulson and George Elokobi are still out through injury.

Chester will be without Paul Turnbull through suspension after he picked up his fifth booking of the season on Saturday. Harry White is a doubt after picking up an injury against Bromley while Reece Hall-Johnson, Tom Shaw and Craig Mahon are out with injury. Ryan Astles and Jordan Archer missed Saturday’s draw and are still doubts but Ryan Rainey and Myles Anderson could be handed starts at Orient.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 13, Draw 7, Chester City 10

• First meeting in 11 years
• Orient have won two of the last three meetings 
• Chester have won two of their last three trips to Brisbane Road
• Orient have scored in ten of the last 11 meetings between sides

The last seven meetings between sides

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-1 Chester City

Leyton Orient interim head coach Ross Embleton has urged the fans to back his team ahead of their clash with Dover Athletic tomorrow afternoon. Speaking to leytonorient.com “the message to the fans is simple, really try and help us, get us through the tough moments and back us when we provide you with some good moments. Hopefully we will have more than we have recently”.

• Sit 19th on 19 points – three points above relegation zone
• League Record – P19  W5  D4  L10  F24  A33
• Only Solihull (38) conceded more goals than Orient
• Only Torquay (12), Solihull (14) lost more games than Orient

The O’s host Dover looking for their first league win since 2nd September, last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Ebbsfleet culminated in the sacking of Steve Davis after four months in charge. Embleton and goalkeeper coach Dean Brill will take the reigns for the next two games after club Chairman, Nigel Travis relieved Davis of his duties on Tuesday.

• Only one win in last 14 games in all competitions – (1-0 vs Dagenham, 17/10/17 – FA Cup)
• Longest winless run in league since 2004
• Have trailed for 65% minutes played in last 11 games – 644/990

Form in last 11 National Leagues

After just three points from the last possible 36 available, Embleton is aware that despite the manager losing his job, everybody at the club has to take some responsibility. Speaking to leytonorient.com “the boys were disappointed, collectively everybody in the building day to day has to take some blame and responsibility. Players might not have performed or the way we have been set up was wrong, whatever the reason, everybody has to take responsibility”

• Conceded two or more goals in ten of their last 11 league games
• Trailed in 12 of their last 14 games
• Trailed for 801 minutes in league, most in division

Embleton who returned to the club in the summer after working with the centre of excellence between 2000-2009 is looking to “embrace the opportunity for two games”. Continuing with leytonorient.com “I’m responsible for sending a team out on the pitch to try and win a game, at any level that is a huge thing for me, for it to be at this football club it is something I wished for”.

• Home Record (league) – P9  W3  D1  L5  F12  A13
• Lost their last five league games
• Won just one of their last seven league games at home 
• One win in last six in all competitions
• Last home league win, 4-1 vs Guiseley, 02/09/17

Striker Matt Harrold completed his first 90 minutes for the club this season at Ebbsfleet and highlights that the players are carrying a massive shoulder of blame for their recent form. The former Crawley man stated to leytonorient.com “training has been good, there is a certain level of guilt from the players about what is happening. We know we have had to react, out on the training pitch then take into Saturday’s game”.

• Kept just three clean sheets in league – Only Solihull (1) have kept less
• Only kept one clean sheet in nine home league games (Maidstone 2-0, 12/08/17)
• Without a clean sheet in last 12 leagues games
• Kept just one in last 14 league games (Maidenhead, 1-0, 28/08/17)
• One clean sheet in last eight home games – (Dagenham, 1-0, 17/10/17)

The 33 year old admitted that he hasn’t looked at the table in a while but feels a clash with the league leaders could be exactly what they need. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it has been quite hard to look at the table, you just want to blank it out. Dover have been doing well, maybe it’s the game we need. They are almost expected to beat us which is a strange situation for a club like this. We need to go into the game and give everything”.

• Failed to score in five league games (three at home)
• Scored 14/24 league goals in second half – including two of their last three
• Scored eight in final 15 minutes of games – joint highest in League

Harrold joined from Crawley in the summer and echoes Embleton’s statement about how important the fans can be but knows that is their job to get the supporters going. “We are hoping they turn up in their numbers as they have been and get behind the team. But we know we have got to give them something to get going, it is not just on them. It is down to us to create something that they are proud of”. 

• Conceded 21/33 league goals in first half – most in league
• Conceded eight between 1-15 minutes – most in league
• Conceded nine between 31-45 minutes – second highest behind Guiseley (10)
• In 8 of their 19 league games, Orient have conceded the opening goal in first 5 minutes of games – including last three league games
• Record in those eight games – D2  L6
• All 12 games conceded first, goal has been in first half

Dover arrive in E10 top of the table, on the back of a 2-0 home win over Eastleigh last weekend. Goals from James Alabi and Connor Essam ensured Chris Kinnear’s men stay top of the National League.

• Sit 1st on 36 points
• League Record – P19  W10  D6  L3  F26  A12
• Only lost three games, least with Ebbsfleet in League
• Form in last six (all comps) – W2  D3 L1

First team coach Mark Newson felt his side took their time getting going but completed a professional job in the second half. Speaking to doverathletic.com “we dealt with them quite well, we took our time getting our first goal but the second half was really pleasing, we asked one or two things from the boys and they did it”. He added “we looked solid and didn’t look like conceding. There were some good performances and I thought we managed it in a professional way”.

• Unbeaten in their last nine league games
• Longest unbeaten run since 2014/2015
• One loss in last 11 games in all comps – W5  D5  L1 (Bromley, 3-0, FA Cup)
• Lost just one of their last 13 league games – W7  D5  L1

The Whites sit a point clear off second placed Macclesfield but Newson is aware that there is still a long way to go in the season. Speaking to doverathletic.com “we try not to put much pressure on. The boys have got their feet on the ground, they know it’s a long way to go and we have got some good games coming up in the next two (Orient and Dagenham). We know it is going to be tough to stay there”

• Away Record (league)  – P9  W5  D3  L1  F11 A5
• Best defensive record away
• Only Macclesfield (21) have taken more points away than Dover
• Last away league defeat – 1-0 vs Macclesfield, 25/08/17
• Lost one of their last seven away games, all comps – Bromley, 3-0 Fa Cup

Defender Connor Essam returns to Brisbane Road for the first time since he left in 2016 and wants to keep their defensive record going. Essam headed his first of the season against Eastleigh but admitted to kentonline.co.uk, keeping them out is of more importance. “It is always nice to get a goal but take more pride in our defensive record, it’s still the best in the league so that is more important to me than goals”.

• Joint best defensive Record with Wrexham, only conceding 12 goals
• Kept nine clean sheets in league – second highest
• Kept five clean sheets in nine away league games
• Kept three clean sheets in last five league games
• Kept four clean sheets in last five away league games

After a massive turnover of players in the summer, Essam admits that it amazing what the new group has been achieving , “it’s pretty incredible, I don’t think anyone could have predicted, think they are just three of us left from last year but we just hit it off from day one”. The 25 year old credits the management in their recruitment, “they are always cute with the type of players they bring in. There are no bad eggs in the dressing room”

• Failed to score in three league games (two away)
• Scored in eight of their last nine league games
• Last failed to score – Gateshead 0-0, 28/10/17

Tomorrow’s game will be Chris Kinnear 600th match in charge of Dover, speaking to kentonline.co.uk “it’s no different, I love it. Last year, every year I enjoy it, it’s just what you do, I don’t think of anything else to be honest”. Kinnear admitted that he didn’t know what he was going to do in the summer but credited the players they brought in. “Luckily we’ve been able to get a load of lads together and they gave you a lift”.

• Scored 15/26 league goals in second half
• Scored 13 goals in last 30 minutes of matches – only Ebbsfleet (14) have scored more

Striker James Alabi netted his first for his club last weekend and is keen to build ahead of the clash with Orient. Speaking to doverathletic.com “I am delighted to get off the mark, we were solid from start to finish, we were professional at the same time. We knew we had to be confident and do our own game, focus and work hard”. He added “I’m ready to kick on and show team and the fans what I can do”

• Only Macclesfield (693) have led for more minutes than Dover (617)
• Only trailed for 62 minutes away in league
• Only conceded one first half goal away from home

With Dover facing Orient and Dagenham in their next two games, Alabi is aware that they are there to be shot at but they don’t fear anyone. Speaking to kentonline.co.uk “we know we’re a target now but we are not scared of anyone in the league. We know that as long as we’re on our game, we can beat anyone. If we’re doing the right things, the rest will come”

• Only one of their 10 wins has been by 3 or more goals
• All three losses been by one goal
• 33/36 points come when scoring the first goal

Team News

MacAuley Bonne returns to the Orient squad after international duty with Zimbabwe while Joe Widdowson return after a one match ban. Midfielder James Dayton will be looking to build on his two goals in as many games. Orient will still be without Charlie Lee, Josh Coulson and George Elokobi who remain side lined through injury.

Dover will be without striker Jamie Allen and Tobi Sho-Silva who are out with hip and knee injuries. Anthony Jeffrey is available after his loan move from Sutton United earlier in the week.

Prediction – Leyton Orient 1-2 Dover Athletic

Leyton Orient midfielder Zain Westbrooke has urged his side to attack the opposition more ahead of their trip to Ebbsfleet tomorrow. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we have been working a lot on the final third and start getting some goals. We need to start attacking and going into teams”.

• Sit 19th on 19 points – three above the relegation zone
• Form in last six (all comps) – W1  D2  L3  F4  A7
• One win in last 13 in all comps – W1  D4  L8
• Last league win – 4-1 vs Guiseley, 2/9/17

The O’s head to Kent off the back of a 2-1 away defeat to Gillingham in the First round of the FA Cup. Josh Parker and Tom Eaves put the Gills 2-0 ahead before James Dayton pulled a goal back late in the second half before defender Joe Widdowson was dismissed for a second yellow card.

• Five of nine defeats have been by two or more goals
• Only two of their six wins have been by one goal

Despite the defeat, head coach Steve Davis saw his side dominate Gillingham in the second period. Speaking to leytonorient.com “I thought it was a brilliant second half and we are disappointed to go out, the lads made a magnificent effort in the second half. Thought we played some super football and how I want them to play” .

• Away League Record – P9  W2  D3  L4  F11  A18
• Only Torquay (19) and Guiseley (20) conceded more away
• Last away win 28/08/17 1-0 at Maidenhead
• No win in last seven away games – D4  L3
• Orient have not gone eight away games without a win since 2010

After a disappointing first half, Davis changed to a 4-4-2 diamond system which helped his team gain a foothold in the game. Speaking to eastlondonadvertiser “we took the game to them and changed our shape a little bit after half time”. He added “the diamond is just another way of playing and something we’ve done before and it works if you are prepare the type of football we played in the second half”.

• Scored 13/23 league goals in second half – seven between 76-90 minutes
• Conceded 19 first half goals 60% – most in National League
• Seven between 1-15 minutes and eight between 31-45 minutes
• All 12 games they have conceded first in, goals has been in first half
• No team in National League conceded more opening goals in the first 15 minutes of games (7) than Orient

Orient are winless in their last ten league games and Davis was pleased to have another full week on the training ground to work with his players. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we have done a lot of in and out of possession work and some defensive work. We have focused mainly on ourselves and pattern work getting a way of playing and defending. Trying to get our back four/ five stronger and competitive and realise the importance of clean sheets”

• Kept five clean sheets (three in league)
• No clean sheet in last four – two in last six games (both vs Dagenham in FA Cup)
• No clean sheet in last 11 league games 
• Last league clean sheet – 28/08/17 vs Maidehead 1-0 away
• Conceded two or more in last five away league games and nine of their last ten games

courtesy of soccerstats.co.uk

Midfielder James Dayton netted his first goal for the club at Gillingham and is hoping his side can take their performance into tomorrow’s game. Speaking to leytonorient.com “as a team we clicked a bit more and we were a bit more positive going forward. If we take it into next week, I am sure we will be able to compete in the game and hopefully come out with a positive result”.

• Failed to score in six games (five in league)
• Scored in last two games and six of last eight league games
• Scored in five of their last six away games
• Last failed to score – 24/10/17 Gateshead 0-3 home

Tomorrow’s game will be Orient’s fourth TV game of the season with Davis hoping their luck changes, “we haven’t had much success on the TV, we were hoping for third time lucky at Tranmere but hopefully it is fourth time now”. Orient are expected to take a large away following with Dayton stating to leytonorient.com about the Orient fans, “they have been unbelievable at every game this season. I don’t think I have been at a club where they have such a good following”

• No team in National League trailed for longer than Orient (718 minutes)
• In last 13 games, Orient only led for 116 minutes in four games (67 came in FA Cup)
• Trailed in 11 of their last 13 games

Ebbsfleet head into tomorrow’s clash with Orient on the back of a 6-2 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup. Fleet went two goals up in the first half through a Danny Kedwell penalty and a Luke Coulson strike. But Rovers scored two goals just before the break to make the scores level before hitting four in the second half.

• Sit 13th on 25 points – three points from the play offs
• League Record – P18  W5  D10  L3  F24  A20
• No team in top five English League Drew more games than them

Manager Daryl McMahon was pleased with his sides performance however rued his sides inability to get to the break level. Speaking to BBC Radio Kent “That was the critical part of the game, I felt we lost the game then, even though we were level at half time, I thought the disappointment of being two up, then going 2-2 it changes my team talk. The game then becomes difficult for us”.

• Home League Record – P9  W3  D4  L2  F12  A10
• Won three of their last five home games in all competitions
• Won two of their last three home league games
• Last home defeat in league – Torquay 0-1, 24/10/17

Despite losing the games, Fleet were more than a match for league One Doncaster and McMahon knows that lessons have learnt “we showed for 45 we’ve got players that have the technical quality of players and League One level but what we didn’t have was the professionalism for the last few minutes. It’s a lesson that we have to learn going forward in our league campaign as well”.

• Kept eight clean sheets (six in league) 
• Kept one in last four games (all comps) – Sutton 0-0, 28/10/17
• Kept one clean sheet in last five league games
• Kept two clean sheets in last four home games

After winning just one of their first 11 league matches, Ebbsfleet have won four of their last seven with McMahon keen for his side to continue “I expect a reaction, Orient are not on a good run. They’ll come here, the stands open and should be a good day for us on tv”.

• Form in last six – W2  D2  L2  F8  A9
• No win in last three games
• Last league win – 3-2 vs Barrow, 21/10/17

McMahon enjoyed two and half years at Orient between 2004-2007 achieving promotion to League One in 2006. The former O’s midfielder is excited for the clash, speaking to kentonline.co.uk “I’d imagine on Saturday we’ll have more than we had last week because Leyton Orient will bring over 1000 fans”. He added “It’s a great club, I was there for two and half years and I have been back there a few times watching them. It is a top club and a lot of the people that were at the club when I was there are still there”.

• Failed to score in seven games (six in league)
• Failed to score in two of their last three games
• Only scored in one of their last four league games
• Last failed to score 28/10/17 – 0-0 vs Sutton United

After promotion from National League South last season, Fleet are opening their new stand tomorrow with the visit of Orient. McMahon highlights the importance of remaining focused on the job at hand. Speaking to ebbsfleetunited.co.uk “It’s a game that a lot of people want to come and see because there’s a life story, the cameras and the new stand. It is all a big build up, we’ll leave that to others, it’s a sideshow to myself and the players who will focus on the only thing that matters which is three points”. 

• Three of four wins have been by two or more goals
• 11/20 goals conceded in first half
• No team in National League scored more second half goals than Ebbsfleet (18)
• Eight between 76-90 minutes
• Five of their last eight goals scored have been in second half
• 66% of their home league goals scored in second half

Team News

Leyton Orient welcome back Jobi McAnuff and Dan Happe who missed last weekend’s defeat to Gillingham through injury. On loan pair James Brophy and Mark Ellis are available for selection after being ineligible in the FA Cup. Defender Joe Widdowson will serve a one game ban after his red card last weekend while top scorer Macauley Bonne is away with Zimbabwe on International Duty. George Elokobi, Josh Coulson and Charlie are making progress with their injuries.

Ebbsfleet welcome back Andy Drury after injury and Jack Powell is available after England C duty in Slovakia. Chris Bush will serve a one match ban following his dismissal against Doncaster. Jack Payne, Dave Winfield and Darren McQueen in remain side lined through injury while striker Bradley Bubb and Febian Brandy gained valuable minutes in a reserve game in midweek.

Prediction – Ebbsfleet  United 2-2 Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient head coach Steve Davis knows that tomorrow’s first round FA Cup tie with Gillingham is all about who performs better on the day. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it’s a cup game anything can happen, we believe we can go there and win”.

• Sit 19th in National League – three points above relegation zone
• Form in last six games (all competitions) – W1  D2  L3  F5  A7
• Only Soilhull Moors (36) have conceded more goals in National League than Orient (31)

The O’s head to Gillingham on the back of a 2-2 draw at Wrexham last weekend. Orient twice fell behind at the Racecourse Ground but MacAuley Bonne levelled in the first half before defender Mark Ellis headed home an equaliser five minutes from time to ensure Orient level Wales with a point.

• Away record this season – P10  W2  D4  L4  F11  A18
• Without a win in their last six games – D4  L2
• Last won away – 28/08/17 – Maidenhead 1-0
• Third worse away defence in National League

Davis saw his side fall behind within 42 seconds however was pleased with his sides reaction. Speaking to leytonorient.com “it was a very good performance particularly first half, even though we went behind the response was excellent, the way we played and created was how I wanted them to play. It was good considering the run we’ve had, their heads didn’t got down”.

• Conceded 19/31 goals this season in first half
• Conceded seven in the first 15 minutes of games – most in National League
• No team in National League conceded more opening goals in the first 15 minutes of games (7) than Orient
• All 11 games Orient have conceded first, the goal has been in first half

Striker MacAuley Bonne netted the opener on Saturday and was pleased with the fight and spirit his side showed. The 22 year old has recently been called up to the Zimbabwe squad and highlights that the aim for Orient in the cup is “see how far we can get”. Speaking to leytonorient.com on tomorrow’s game and opponents “it will be a physical battle, on paper they are leagues above but at the end of the day it is two teams, 11 vs 11″

• Only two of their six wins have been by one goal
• Scored 13/24 goals in second half – including seven  in final 15 minutes of games

With Orient’s only win in their last 12 games coming in the FA Cup, assistant manager Ross Embleton is hoping his side can pick up where they left off against Dagenham. Speaking to guardianseries.co.uk “to a degree, it is a nice break from the league and we got a good result last round. It is something we will look to build on, we have looked back on the two games against Dagenham where we kept two clean sheets”.

• No win in last three games – D1  L2
• Record in last 12 games  – W1  D4  L7
• Kept five clean sheets (three away)
• Kept two in last five games (both vs Dagenham in FA Cup)
• One clean sheet in last six away games

After playing local neighbours Dagenham in the fourth qualifying round, Davis thinks tomorrow’s game at Gillingham is “a good draw, it is local, we feel we can get something from the game. We have got to believe that as a group we can do that. Hopefully we have one or two surprises up on the day and we do ourselves justice”.

Orient’s FA Cup results since 2013/2014 season

With Gillingham having a change in management, Davis highlights that they have picked up recently “Lovell has come in and done a great job. He is getting them organised and hard to beat, we can see that from the clips and games. He is working them hard, pressing and working as a unit” leytonorient.com. He added “they are tight in how they defend and are hard to break down, they seem to be responding to what he wants”.

• Failed to score in six of 20 games this season (three away)
• Failed to score in three of their last five games
• Scored in four of their last five away games
• Last failed to score away Dagenham 0-0, 14/10/17

After a good result on the road last weekend, Davis praised the away fans and illustrates that they have an important role to play. Speaking to leytonorient.com “the away fans are the support, they travel 200 miles to watch you play. They were terrific last week, they have been great wherever we have been away whether it has been 200 or 2000. They get behind us and show huge support for the team, the lads really appreciate it”.

• Conceded two or more in five of their last six away games
• Trailed in ten of their last 12 games
• Since September 4th, only led for 116 minutes in four games (67 in FA Cup win over Dagenham)
• Five of their nine defeat been by two or more goals

Gillingham head in tomorrow’s game on the back of a 3-1 away victory at Rotherham last weekend. Two goals from Josh Parker and a Tom Eaves header gave the Gills an all important three points in their battle of survival.

• Sit 22nd in League One – one point from safety
• Form in last six (all competitions) – W3  D1  L2  F7  A5
• Only AFC Wimbledon have scored less goals in League One than the Gills

Caretaker manager Steve Lovell was extremely pleased with his sides performance on Saturday and knows his side have set their standards now. Speaking to gilinghamfootballclub.co.uk “that’s the benchmark, you’ve got to roll your sleeves up , work hard and give everything. At times we played some lovely stuff and beat a good side. It was an excellent result and performance. 

• Home Record this season – P9  W2  D3  L4  F9  A11
• Second worse home record in League One
• Won one of last six home games in all competitions
• Without a win in their last four
• Last home win came in a 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic, 16/09/17

Lovell took over on a temporary basis after Ad Pennock left in October and has done his chance of the full time position no harm. Speaking to kentonline.co.uk “I haven’t made it any easier for people to make that decision but I have said all day long I want to do it. I know my ability and what I can do”.

• Won three of their last six games in all competitions (all away from home)
• Only scored two or more goals in three of their 19 games this season
• 3-1 win at Rotherham was first time in 12 games scored more than one goal
• Four of their five wins been by one goal

Parker who scored twice at Rotherham praised Lovell’s impact on the squad and the faith he has in them. Speaking to kentonline.co.uk “when there are issues on the pitch we sort them out but when we have the ball, we basically do what we want”. He added “that’s the faith Loves has in us, some managers might not like that but he believes in us and trusts us a players because he has been around long enough to know what we are capable of”.

• Kept four clean sheets (two at home)
• Kept just one in their last five games 
• Without one in last three games 
• Last clean sheet came vs Peterborough in a 1-0 win, 14/10/17
• Without clean sheet in last three home games (last 0-0 vs Scunthorpe, 26/09/17)

After losing just one of his four games in charge Lovell is pleased that his messages are being taken on board by the players, “I am working wit these players and they are responding to what I am doing. They have taken on board what we are working on with them and we’re trying to make them understand what we are asking of them”. kentonline.co.uk

• Failed to score in nine of 19 games (three at home)
• Scored in last four games and five of their last six
• Last failed to score 1-0 home loss to Portsmouth, 08/10/17
• 2nd Lowest scorers at home in League One

Gillingham have not progressed the second round since 2012/2013 season and midfielder Jake Hessenthaler is hoping their luck improves tomorrow. Speaking to kentonline.co.uk “maybe we don’t want a break in the league but it is nice to leave on a high. Hopefully now we can get a bit of luck in the FA Cup, which we haven’t seen a lot since I have been in the first team”. He added “hopefully this may be a different year and I would like to get a few more highlights in the FA Cup”.

Gillingham’s last six seasons in the FA Cup

• Only progressed past Round one, twice in last seven seasons

Despite the 45 league places separating the teams tomorrow, Lovell wants to keep the momentum going with his side but is aware of the danger that Orient can possess. Speaking to gillinghamfootballclub.co.uk “there’s a chance to progress, it’s a big game for everybody and players will be fighting to get through to the next round”. He added “we’ve got to match them, they have experience up front and are strong at the back, we need to be prepared which we will be”.

• Only scored four first half goals this season
• 11/15 goals scored in second half – including eight of their nine home goals
• Only scored one first half goal at home this season, EFL trophy 2-1 vs Southend
• Six of nine defeats this season have been by just one goal

Team News

Leyton Orient will be without duo Mark Ellis and James Brophy as they ineligible to play in the FA Cup after their parent clubs denied permission. Joe Widdowson and Alex Lawless trained midweek and could be back in contention for the trip to Gillingham. Matt Harrold came through 60 minutes in midweek and is set for a place on the bench. Zain Westbrooke is set to continue in midfield after impressing on his first start at Wrexham last weekend. Charlie Lee, Josh Coulson and George Elokobi remain side lined through injury.

Gillingham will be without Bradley Garmston who tweaked his hamstring while defenders Alex Lacey and Ben Nugent are a couple of weeks away from fitness. Striker Noel Mbo is back available after returning from his loan spell with Cray Wanderers.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 28, Draw 20, Gillingham 25

The last seven meetings between the sides

• Orient failed to win the last three meetings – last winning 12/04/14 in a 5-1 win
• Five of the last six games seen two or more goals and both teams score

The five meetings between sides in the FA Cup

Prediction – Gillingham 2-1 Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient defender Jake Caprice has urged the O’s faithful to back the team ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Wrexham. Orient are winless in the league since 2nd September but Caprice urged to leytonorient.com for the fans to “stick with us, it will come good, I believe in this team, we have got more than enough quality to turn this around”.

• Sit 19th on 18 points – four points above the relegation zone
• League Record – P17  W5  D3  L9  F21  A29
• Form in last eight – D2  L6   F7  A16
• No team picked up less points in that period in league

The O’s continued their terrible run of form with a 2-0 home defeat to Gateshead on Tuesday night. Jordan Burrow netted twice to inflict Orient’s seventh defeat in their last nine league games. 

Table from Start of September 

• One win in their last 11 games – 1-0 vs Dagenham
• No win in their last nine league games – D2  L9
• Last time Orient went ten league games without a win – August and September 2011 back in league One

Taking just two points from the last 27 available, Head Coach Steve Davis insisted to the East London Advertiser “I fully understand the frustrations of tonight and what has happened at the football club, I am the right person to turn this around along with Martin and the rest of the players as well”.

• Kept just three clean sheets in League and five in all competitions
• Kept two in their last four games (both vs Dagenham in cup)
• No clean sheet in league since 28th August – Maidenhead – a run of ten games

Orient conceded within the first ten minutes on Tuesday but Davis was very disappointed with how his side reacted after they fell two goals behind in the second half. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we have got to show a reaction from that, I looked at the body language of the players afterwards, they were beaten. We can’t let that happen, we have to roll up our sleeves and fight to put the wrongs right”.

• Conceded 18/29 (10/16 away) of their league goals in the first half – included four of the last five goals conceded – the most in National League
• Conceded 1/3 of those goals between 1-15 minutes – the most in the National League
• Conceded eight goals between 31-45 minutes – (Only Guiseley 10 have conceded more)

Striker David Mooney is in his second spell at Orient and revealed that he had a second meeting with the players about their recent form. Speaking to the East London Advertiser “sometimes home truths are the best truths and now it is time for everyone to go home and look in the mirror and tell themselves it hasn’t been good enough and ask how we change it”.

• Failed to score in five league games (two away)
• Failed to score in three of their last four games
• Scored just one goal in their last 423 minutes of football
• Last time Orient failed to score in three consecutive games – October 2016 
• Last time Orient failed to score in three consecutive league games – October and November 2012

Both Davis and Caprice alluded to the clear the air chat that Orient staff and players had on Wednesday. The 24 year old stated to leytonorient.com “the management team were brilliant with us on Wednesday, they too what we said on board and vice versa. We came in and did a lot of stuff that we talked about that we need to do more of, gearing up for Saturday”.

• Orient have conceded first in ten games – all in the first half
• In six of those games, the goal has been conceded between 1-15 minutes – the most in the National League

Ahead of the trip to Wales tomorrow, it will be the first of three away games in a row for Orient with Davis highlighting that his side may be going as second favourites. Speaking to leytonorient.com “maybe we are going in a the underdog, however it is all about putting in a good performances. We have to do what we have to do to try and get three points however it comes”.

• Away Record – P8  W2  D2  L4  F9  A16
• No win in their last five away games in all competitions – D3  L2
• Conceded two or more in their last four away league games
• Last away win – 1-0 vs Maidenhead, 28/08/17
• Scored in six of their last eight away games

Caprice beat Wrexham last season with Woking and feels that being away could be a good thing for his side, “they are doing quite well this year, I expect a tough test, no game is easy. The pressure maybe slightly off as we are away from home, hopefully they don’t just sit in, they have to come onto us and hopefully we can pick up some points”.

• No team in League has trailed for minutes than Orient (682)
• Since September 9th, Orient have only led for 49 minutes in three games
• No held a lead for longer than 27 minutes in last nine games

Davis acknowledged that consistency has played a part for Wrexham’s early season form, “they are going well, they have a wealth of experience in their ranks. They have had a fairly regular settled team, it has helped them and given them some consistency over the early months of the season”.

• Only Solihull Moors (32) have conceded more goals than Orient
• Have conceded two or more goals in eight of their last nine league games

Wrexham head into tomorrow’s clash after a 2-0 away defeat to AFC Fylde on Tuesday night. Goals from Johnny Smith and Jack Muldoon ended their 11 match unbeaten run in the league.

• Sit 3rd on 29 points – just three behind league leaders
• League Record – P17  W8  D5  L4  F14  A10
• Form in last eight league games – W3  D4  L1  F6  A5

In a week which saw manager Dean Keates celebrate one year in charge at the Racecourse Ground, the former midfielder was disappointed with his side performance on Tuesday. Speaking to wrexhamafc.co.uk “that is by far the worse performance of the season, all I can do is apologise to the fans. It was an unbelievable following and they didn’t deserve that, we were no where near good enough”.

• Seven of their eight wins have been by just one goal – including three of their four home wins

Wrexham have only lost two of their last 13 games in all competitions, both to AFC Fylde which angered Keates, “we were disappointed with the performance we put in ten day ago but tonight was worse, there will be a reaction come Saturday”. He added “I learn all the time, we learnt from the weekend and we will learn tomorrow”.

• Have the best defensive record in league
• Only Tranmere Rovers (13) have scored less than Wrexham
• Only conceded five goals in their last eight league games

Keates revealed that words were exchanged in the changing room between staff and players, “you can look at the reason why, we had a good chat in there and got a few thins of our chest, it was not good enough. Going 11 unbeaten in the league, we got a good result at the weekend, we came here and set standards and we were no where near them”.

• Home record – P8  W4  D3  L1  F8  A4
• No team in league scored less at home, no team conceded less than them
• Unbeaten in their last seven home games – W4  D3
• Last time went eight unbeaten at home – January – April 2015
• Drew three of their last four home games
• Last defeat – 0-1 vs Macclesfield, 05/08/17

Wrexham have responded to their previous three defeats with wins and goalkeeper Chris Dunn thinks that Tuesday’s result was a one off. Speaking to dailypost.co.uk “looking at the season as a whole to now, it is a one off, but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we dust ourselves down and get on with it Saturday”.

• Kept a league high of nine clean sheets 
• Kept two in their last five games
• Have conceded in their last three home games
• Last home clean sheet 12/09/17 vs Hartlepool, 0-0

Tuesday’s defeat was only Dunn’s second game back after injury and knows lessons have been learnt, “it was a bad day at the office all round, we have got to learn from it and learn from it quickly because we have got a big game coming up Saturday”.

• Failed to score in six league games (two at home)
• Failed to score in three of their last five games in competitions
• Scored in their last three home games and six of their last seven at Racecourse
• Last failed to score 12/09/17 vs Hartlepool

The Dragons took 662 fans to Fylde in midweek and Dunn is keen to repay them with a performance tomorrow afternoon, “we will work hard in training to got Saturday and give the fans something to shout about. We are a close knit team and Tuesday was a one off, we don’t let it affect us now and put those wrongs right on Saturday”.

• Eight of their ten goals conceded have been in the first half (three of four at home)
• Both goals conceded in second half have been in last 15 minutes of matches
• Ten of their 14 league goals scored been in the second half – including eight in the last 30 minutes
• Five of their eight home goals have been scored in the last 30 minutes of matches

Team News

Leyton Orient will be without the suspended Jobi McAnuff after he picked up his fifth booking of the season on Tuesday. Joe Widdowson is rated 50/50 after coming off at half time on Tuesday with a hamstring injury. Matt Harrold and Jamie Sendles-White look set to return to the squad after groin injuries and illness respectively. Alex Lawless, Charlie Lee, George Elokobi and Josh Coulson remain absent.

Wrexham will be boosted with the return of captain Shaun Pearson who missed the trip to Fylde through suspension. Kevin Roberts is doubtful after coming off through injury on Tuesday.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 11, Draw 10, Wrexham 11

Last Meeting – 21/01/2006 – Wrexham 1-2 Leyton Orient

The Last seven meetings between the sides

• Orient have only won one of the last eight meetings – Draw 4, Lost 3
• Three of the last five meetings have been draws
• Orient are unbeaten on their last two trips to Racecourse Ground
• Six of Wrexham’s 11 wins have been at home

Prediction – Wrexham 2-1 Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient head coach Steve Davis has asked for a reaction from his players as they host Gateshead tomorrow night. The former Crewe boss stated to leytonorient.com “we wait for a reaction, home truths are always hurtful, in the end we want a reaction”.

• Sit 18th on 18 points
• League Record – P16  W5  D3  L8  F21  A27
• Form in last eight league games – D2  L6  F7  A16
• Only Solihull Moors (1) have taken less points in that period

The O’s fell to their sixth defeat in their last eight league matches on Saturday with a 1-0 home loss to Macclesfield Town. Despite what appeared to be a morale boosting win against Dagenham & Redbridge in midweek, Davis’s men succumbed to a Scott Wilson header on the stroke of half time.

• Home League Record – P8  W3  D1  L4  F12  A11
• Won one of their last five home games in all competitions
• Lost their last four home league games
• Won one of their last six home league games – W1  D1  L4
• Only Soilhull Moors (14) have conceded more at home than Orient

Without a league win since 2nd September, Davis’s side have been underachieving this season with the 52 year old feeling that only a handful of players are playing to their ability. Speaking to leytonorient.com “I thought we should have got something from game, we didn’t show fight which they did. There are definitely large portions of those players underperforming”

• Orient sat 2nd on September 2nd, taking 16 points from 8 games
• Since then Orient have taken 2 points from their last 8 games
• If the season began at the start of September – Orient would sit 23rd

Table from 1st September

Davis praised three of his back five in their performances “Happe, Joe and Juddy did okay, I couldn’t really say a lot about anybody else who actually performed to the level they should do. We were carrying seven or eight players today and we can’t win games like that”.

• Kept three clean sheets in National League (five in all competitions)
• Kept two in their last three games (both vs Dagenham in FA Cup)

Defender James Brophy impressed after coming off the bench but was unable to force an equaliser. The on loan Swindon man, highlighted to leytonorient.com what needs to improve, “we need to be better, we need to take more pride in keeping a clean sheet, if we are not clinical with our chances then the least we take away with us is a draw”.

• Not kept a clean sheet in the league since Maidenhead 28/08/17 – nine games
• Only kept two clean sheets in their nine home matches this season

After promising performances against Dagenham & Redbridge, Davis continued with the 3-5-2 system which saw them keep back to back clean sheets. However speaking to East London Advertiser he stated “the system worked really well and it was all good. The player adapted well but against Macclesfield they didn’t and basically they are inconsistent”. He continued “National League players are inconsistent and our lot are no different”.

• Orient have conceded two more goals in seven of their last eight league games
• Only Guiseley (28), Torquay (29) an Solihull Moors (31) have conceded more goals in the league
• Only Solihull Moors (624) have trailed for minutes this season than Orient (601)

Davis was keen to show the players what he thought of their performances and knows that despite stats being in his sides favour; they don’t win games. Orient have only won one of their nine games they have conceded first in this season, an problem which Davis has identified. Speaking to leytonorient.com “whenever we have gone a goal behind, we rarely show desire, fight and determination to come back. Occasionally we have done it by not enough and not enough for a team of mine”.

• Orient record this season when conceding first  – W1  D2  L6
• Only win was 4-1 vs Guiseley, 02/09/17

With a game just around the corner for his side, Davis highlighted that it is “always the beauty with football. There is plenty of life and endeavour in me, I’ll be looking at the performance again and the team. We need people out there who are going to fight, scrap and bite their way to winning games. At times we don’t have enough of that”. BBC London. 

• Have failed to score in five games in all competitions
• Failed to score in two of their last three games
• 12/21 league goals have been scored in the second half – two of their last three league goals
• 66% of their home league goals have been scored in the second half

Davis has called for his side to raise their performances against Gateshead tomorrow, “I am looking for 50 % more from all of them, I think they know they let me down, themselves down and the fans down” East London Advertiser. He added “we need competition and we need people to realise we want to win football matches and get this club back to where it should be”

• Conceded 17/27 of League goals in first half – most in National League
• Conceded five in the opening 15 minutes of matches
• Only Guiseley (10) have conceded more league goals between 31-45 than Orient (8) 

Gateshead arrive in E10 on the back of a 3-2 away defeat to Eastleigh on Saturday. The Tynesiders fell 2-0 behind but battled back to 2-2 with goals from Jordan Preston and Theo Vassell. However, Steve Watson’s men conceded a third in the dying minutes from Ben Strevens inflicting their ninth league defeat of the season. 

• Sit 17th on 18 points
• League Record – P16  W4  D6  L9  F19  A18
• Form in last eight league games – W1  D4  L3  F10  A12
• Have one win in their last seven games all competitions (2-1 vs Buxton, FA Cup, 14/10/17)

After enjoying a promising campaign last season, there has been plenty of change at Gateshead so far this season. Steve Watson is the club’s second manager of the season after Neil Aspin left to manage Port Vale in early October. Watson who was assistant manager at Macclesfield for three years took the job on the 10th October. 

• Last league win – 3-2 vs Chester, 12/09/17
• Took 11 points in first seven games, taken only seven points in last nine games

Following his sides last gasp defeat on Saturday, Watson stated to gatesheadfc.co.uk “we are bitterly disappointed . We have worked all week going back to back four, it does take a bit of time. You get back to 2-2 and you think about taking the point but they looked dead on their feet and on the back foot and we needed the win. But we were caught by a naïve goal”.

• Away Record  – P8  W0  D4  L4  F7  A12
• Are one of four National League teams without a away league win this season
• Only away victory of season was 2-1 vs Buxton in FA Cup
• Have only won one of their last 13 away games – W1  D6  L6
• Last away league win – 0-4 vs Borehamwood, 22/04/17

Watson highlighted that his side found it hard to cope with Eastleigh’s direct style and the conditions on Saturday, “it was always going to be tough against a team who are so direct and physical”. The 43 year old feels that once his side pick up some form, his side will improve “when we have a few wins under our belt we will be a lot calmer on the ball. When you haven’t won in the league for a long time it is natural”.

• Failed to score in five games (three away)
• Only failed to score in one of their last six games
• Scored in five of their last six away games

Defender Theo Vassell thought he snatched a point for his side but admitted that despite battling back his side left Eastleigh with no points. Speaking to gatesheadfc.co.uk “it’s an extremely disappointing result for everyone. There are positives that we fought back to 2-2 so late on but obviously the big, all important negative is the fact that we lost right at then end”.

• 12/18 league goals have been conceded in the second half
• Only Solihull and Torquay (11) have conceded more goals in the last 15 minutes of matches than Gateshead (8)
• Gateshead have dropped seven points in that period – losing three games

Tomorrow’s clash with Orient, will be Watson’s third in charge of Gateshead and he is worried about a trend in his opening two games, “it was too easy for us to be undone by a bit of long ball. The one ball was causing us too many problems and it did against Buxton in the cup. The big long ball caused us problems along with the conditions”.

• Have only led for 13 minutes away from home in the National League
• Five of their six losses been by just one goal
• Conceded two or more in three of their last six away games
• 77% of their league points have come when scoring the first goal

Despite the loss, Watson is keen to take positives from the game and is keen for his side to take collective responsibility “we need to get a clean sheet under out belts, it gives everyone confidence. Defenders seemed to get blamed for goals that go in. It is about collective responsibility, the midfield making it hard for them to get out at the back and pressing them at the back”.

• Kept two clean sheets this season (two away)
• Only kept one in their last 10 games in all competitions (0-0 vs Fylde, 03/10/17)
• Kept one in last six away games

Team News

Orient are hopeful that striker Matt Harrold has overcome a calf injury to be included in the matchday squad. Alex Lawless and Jobi McAnuff remain doubts with groin injuries while on loan James Brophy will be pushing for a start after impressing from the bench on Saturday. Charlie Lee, George Elokobi and Josh Coulson remain absent through injury.

Gateshead are hopeful James Montgomery has overcome injury and has travelled with the squad tomorrow, while Jamal Fyfield remains sidelined.

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-1 Gateshead