Leyton Orient defender Sean Clohessy knows his side must beat their play off rivals in order to achieve their goal at the end of the season. Orient picked up their 5^th win under player manager Kevin Nolan on Saturday against Crawley and Clohessy knows how important the recent wins have been.

• League Record – P33 W14  D10  L9  F49  A45
• Form in last 8 – W5 D0 L3  F9  A10
• Only Northampton (22) and Wimbledon (18) have taken more points in their last 8 games
• Away Record – P16 W6  D6  L4  F22 A22
• Last away games (most recent first) – WWWDLL

Speaking to leytonorient.com ahead of the trip to Carlisle, Clohessy stated ‘the last two wins have been massive for us because we have got some big games coming up against teams around’. The O’s sit just inside the play offs by just one point but Clohessy hopes his side can be the late chargers into the mix, ‘there is an always a team that comes in late to the play offs by going on a run, hopefully that can be us”.

• Only failed to score in 3 league matches this season, only Northampton have the same record
• Only failed to score in 1 of their last 12 games
• Have scored in 15 of their last 16 games in all competitions
• Netted in 17 of their 19 away games in all competitions this season

Clohessy made his first start for Orient after losing his place to Nicky Hunt at full back and his manager was quick to praise the former Colchester man. Nolan, speaking after the Crawley victory to leytonorient.com ‘Sean was very unlucky that he lost his place since I’ve come in, he’s been fantastic, he is one of the top lads in training and gives his all every day. He is a very honest lad and today his performance was fantastic and he deserved his assist”.

• Both Teams have scored in 21 of their 33 games and 11 of their 16 away games
• But only 1 of their last 7 games have both teams scored
• 7 of Orient’s 14 wins have been by a 1 goal margin

Nolan was happy how his side responded after two successive home defeats, ‘I asked for a performance and I got it today. We have been threatening it, the lads have been magnificent since I’ve come in”. The win brought Nolan’s fifth clean sheet in seven games which has helped Orient’s move up the table but Nolan was quick to put the result today bed ‘we now have to go on a run and things turn immediately to Carlisle away on Tuesday’.

• Have kept 9 clean sheets, 4 away from home including their last 3 away games
• Have kept 5 clean sheets in their last 7 games under Nolan
• Have scored 28 of their 49 goals in the second half including 22 in the final 30 minutes of games
• Netted only 1 first half goal in their last 7 games
• Orient have gained 8 points in the final 30 minutes of games, they would sit 12^th if games ended after 60 minutes

Armand Gnanduillet struck both goals in the victory over Crawley with the Frenchman dedicating his first to his uncle who passed away last Tuesday. Gnanduillet who joined from Chesterfield in January knows the importance of a tight defensive display from his side ‘we played well today, it was another clean sheet which is very important for us. I was happy to score two goals”.

• Have scored 9 of their 22 away goals in the first 30 minutes of matches
• Opened the scoring 7 times in the opening 30 minutes of away matches – the joint best in the division

Gnanduillet has forced his way into the Orient side but acknowledges that his performances have not been consistent, ‘Notts County was a different game, I made a few mistakes technically and it was hard to play football. Today was a different game, ball more on the floor, everybody is doing well, the back four, the midfield and as a squad have to stick together”.

• Record scoring first – W13 D5  L3   away – W6  D4  L2
• Have won their last 5 games scoring first
• Record conceding first – W1 D5  L6   away D2  L2
• Have not won their last 10 away games conceding first
• Have only 1 win in their last 16 games conceding first – last win 14/02/2015 3-2 win at Chesterfield

Nolan praised the performances of both Gnanduillet and full back Jerome Binnom-Williams. Binnon-Williams arrived on loan from Crystal Palace in January and Nolan states that it is a rarity in modern day football for a youngster to want to learn. Speaking to leytonorient.com ‘he did well on his debut but today we saw what he is about and he is getting better and listening. That is one thing that young lads don’t do. He wants to do well and work hard, he has got all of the attributes to be a top player and we can only help him get better’

• Record against top half teams – P16 W4  D7  L5
• Record against bottom half teams – P17 W10  D3  L4.

Carlisle head in to tomorrow’s key clash with Orient after a 2-1 victory at Morecambe on Saturday. The Cumbrians fell behind in the first half but a penalty from Charlie Wyke and a Derek Asamoah late goal gave them the win. Manager Keith Curle knows that his side have two great games which could help to cement their push into the playoffs.

• League Record – P31 W13  D10  L8  F49  A44
• Form in last 8 – W3 D3  L2  F7  A5  – only Northampton have conceded less in their last 8 games
• Home Record – P15 W8  D4  L3  F28  A20
• Last home games (most recent first) – WWLDD
• Only Portsmouth (29) and Accrington (31) have scored more goals at home

Following the home game with Orient, Carlisle host league leaders Northampton n Saturday with Curle describing it as a massive week for his side. Carlisle sit 11^th on 49 points, just three points outside the play offs with two games in hand and Curle stated to carlisleunited.co.uk ‘if Carlisle reach the play offs, we will go up”.

• Only 7 points separates Carlisle in 11^th and Accrington in 4^th

Curle revealed to carlisleunited.co.uk that despite his side being 1-0 down at half time, he believed his side would still pick up the points, ‘we were glad to come off the pitch at half time 1-0, we knew that within the changing room we can score goals and win games. It was a fitting way that we were playing towards our fans in the second half’.

• Have kept 6 clean sheets – 4 at home
• Kept 2 in their last 6 games (both at home)
• Kept 3 in their last 12 in all competitions
• Have conceded in 14 of their 18 home matches this season

Curle felt his side were flat in the first period and acknowledged that his management team will have to look at the preparation before key games. Speaking on yesterday to Carlisle.united.co.uk ‘everything will be spot on, the players have changed their routines from this weekend. The lads are fresh and have been rested, we want to be right and give ourselves the best opportunity to put in two performances that send message to other people’.

• Have failed to score in 6 games, 2 of them at home
• Failed to score in 2 of their last 5 games
• Have scored in 9 of their last 10 home league matches
• Both Teams have scored in 20 of their 31 games and 9 of their 15 home games

Michael Raynes revealed that little was said at half time at Morecambe, speaking to carlsileunited.co.uk yesterday ‘we’ve got our standards, we know them, the lads know when we are not hitting our heights. We know we can’t be on top every game but it is about the character to stay in games and ride them out”.

Raynes who was named in the Carling Cup team of the season after his impressive performances in his sides run knows that it is ‘a hell of a week’ for his side. ‘We have two great tests, Orient are one of the biggest clubs in this league. We have the top scorer coming against us but we are going to enjoy ourselves and see where we are’.

• 10 of their 13 wins have been by 1 goal and 5 of their 8 home wins
• Have scored 27 of their 49 goals in the second half including 13 in the last 15 minutes of games
• Carlisle would sit 17^th if games ended after 75 minutes
• Only Bristol Rovers (11) have gained as many points as Carlisle in that period
• 15 of their 28 home goals have been scored in the first half

Curle worked with Orient striker Jay Simpson in his time at QPR and knows his strengths and weaknesses ‘he is a big threat, has a good work mentality and work ethic, he comes alive in and around the box but he doesn’t like chasing play or going the other way’. Curle was coy on whether his side would play four or three at the back for the game or have a man marker for Simpson but he feels that his side have enough threats of their own to cause Orient problems.

• Record scoring first – W8 D5  L2  home  – W6  D2  L1
• Record conceding first- W5 D4 L6 home – W2 D2 L2
• No team has taken more points from losing positions than Carlisle (19)
• Only 13 of their 49 points have come against top half sides – record against top half P14  W2  D7  L5
• Record against bottom half – P17 W11  D3  L3

Team News

Carlisle will be without on loan QPR midfielder Brandon Comley who has been sent back to London to see the extent of his injury picked up at Morecambe. Striker Derek Asamoah will be pushing for a recall to the starting 11 after netting the winner at the Globe Arena.

Orient will still be without the duo of Dean Cox and Paul McCallum who are continuing their rehab from knee injuries while the game comes to quick for Lloyd James who is still not up to full fitness. Jobi McAnuff remains the only doubt after missing the win over Crawley after picking up a ankle injury in training last week.

Nolan knows how important the end of the season push for his side is ‘ they are all big games, there are 13 left, we have to make sure that come the end of the season we are on top of that league, we are on 52 points now and are looking to get in and around it. We hope to continue our form going to Carlisle, it will be a tough game but one we should go into with lots of confidence’.

Head to Head – Carlisle 21,   Draw  11,    Leyton Orient 20

Last meeting – 29/09/2015 – Leyton Orient 1-2 Carlisle United

• The last game was Orient’s first defeat in the past five games
• Orient have scored 18 goals in their last 5 matches against Carlisle
• Scored 9 in their last two visits to Brunton Park
• Orient have only lost 1 of their last 6 games at Brunton Park (W4, D1, L1)
• Orient last defeat at Brunton Park came in 2012 in a 4-1 loss
• Both Teams have scored in 6 of the last 7 meetings with at least 3 goals in the last 7 meetings
• Last 0-0 came in 2011

Prediction – Carlisle 1-1 Leyton Orient

A brace from Armand Gnanduillet helped move Leyton Orient back into the play off places yesterday. The January arrival from Chesterfield brought a dull game to life 4 minutes before the break with a stunning volley from 25 yards to open the scoring. Crawley offered little in attack with Mark Yates apologising to the away support for the performance. Orient pushed for a second and grabbed it with 19 minutes to go when Gnanduillet volleyed home at the back post from a Sean Clohessy cross.

After a third away win on the bounce last weekend, player manager Kevin Nolan was forced into one change with Jobi McAnuff missing out due to injury. Sean Clohessy came in to right midfield.

Crawley who drew at home to Plymouth last weekend were enforced into one change of their own with Jon Ashton coming in for the injured Tom Dallison.

Much like last weekend at Notts County, the game lacked tempo and quality in the opening period. The pattern of play was set with Orient having large periods of possession with the away side content trying to absorb the pressure. The home side were pushing for the opener with little joy with chances at a premium.

Nolan’s men won a succession of corners but Nicky Hunt could only send an effort over after a good routine. It was clear that Orient had been doing some work on different routines from corners in training. It was another routine which saw top scorer Jay Simpson force Crawley keeper Paul Jones into a save at his near post. Sammy Moore played the ball to Simpson who had come short, he was allowed time to turn and shoot at the near post.

Crawley lacked ambition throughout the first half with their game plan seemed to be a long ball to Gwion Edwards and looking to pick up the scraps. Orient had failed to score a first half goal under Kevin Nolan and it was the player manager himself next to go close but his header was easily saved by Jones.

With the half fading out, the sides looked certain to go in level but the game sprung into life with a bang. A forward ball from Nicky Hunt found Armand Gnanduillet with his back to goal, the French striker wriggled free and turned to face goal and let fly with a stunning left foot volley which found the top corner. The only real piece of quality lit up the game and sent Orient into half time ahead.

It was clear that Mark Yates would have to get his side to come at Orient in the second half The pace and tempo of the game increased early in the second half with home keeper Alex Ciask forced to palm away at Roarie Deacon effort from distance. Despite Orient dominance in the game it never feels safe with just a one goal lead and Nolan really should have doubled his sides lead. After missing a guilt edge chance at Portsmouth a couple of games ago, Nolan was at it again after putting over a Gnanduillet cross when it looked easier to score.

The game had certainly opened with Orient having two great chances to put the game to bed. After a flowing move down the center, Nolan found Simpson who ran at goal but his shot was straight at Jones before Gnanduillet was found with a ball over the top but the Frenchman could only volley at Jones.

There was only one team looking to score and Orient grabbed the game clinching second with 19 minutes to go, after Clohessy was found on the right he crossed to Gnanduillet at the back post. Gnanduillet volleyed back across goal for his second of the day and third of his Orient career to make the game certain.

With the game in the bag Ollie Palmer and Callum Jahraldo Martin were introduced for Armand Gnanduillet and Sammy Moore. Jones was forced to tip over a Jahraldo Martin free kick in the last attempt of the day. Orient moved back into the play offs with the win and made it back to back wins with clean sheets.

Another Saturday and another win, but the same remains, just another 3 points. That is the clear message, 3 points is 3 points no matter now it comes. The last two wins have not been vintage in the slightest however at the moment Orient are picking up the results. I mean think back to earlier in the season where we should have won games and we didn’t but Nolan will emphasize that when a performance is needed it needs to come.

There were many positives today in both Armand Gnanduillet and Jerome Binnon Williams who didn’t shine in glory last weekend. Gnanduillet will divide opinion in attack but has done some ground work to built his reputation with the Orient faithful. He linked up well with Simpson at times throughout the game and it is important that while Simpson is not scoring someone else is netting for the O’s.

I was one of the first to state that Binnom Williams was poor at Notts County last weekend however the Palace loanee showed a glint of why Nolan brought him in. He still slightly lacks match fitness but it will come with games and he offered an option going forward for the Orient. More importantly it showed that he can tackle with a couple of brilliant recovery tackles in the second half.

The only downside is Simpson didn’t score. It is quite clear that Simpson wants a goal and needs one to settle him down. At times he was greedy looked to create a chance for himself rather than play to a team mate. At one point in the second half, Ollie Palmer took the ball off Simpson when he had three men around him, Simpson turned his back on play after the ball had gone away from him. People may think I am being negative but the quicker Simpson gets a goal the better.

So the season of Wonder Goals continues, another one to add to the collection which keeps on growing. Another clean sheet but let’s be honest Orient were rarely troubled throughout the match. The concentration levels were still there and something which you feel Nolan prides himself on. Carlisle away next for a tough test, a team that loves to score goals. The outcome will help to see where Orient could potentially finish this season. All I know is where else would you rather be on a Tuesday Night? Brunton Park for a night game, what Tuesday’s are made for….

Shaun Brisley second half strike sealed Leyton Orient’s third consecutive victory away from home. The on loan Peterborough center half volleyed home 14 minutes from time to settle a dire game at Meadow Lane. In a game of few chances O’s Captain Mathieu Baudry had a header cleared off the line before Brisley popped up with the winner to give player manager, Kevin Nolan his fourth win in six games at Notts County yesterday.

After picking up their third away victory at Harlepool on Tuesday under new manager Jamie Fullarton, County named an unchanged side for the third consecutive match. Izale McCleod partnered Jon Stead in attack while Jason Banton made his home debut for the Magpies.

Orient who were looking to bounce back from their home defeat to Northampton last weekend. Kevin Nolan made three changes to his side, Fraser Shaw, Jack Payne and Callum Jahraldo Martin all dropped out. Jerome Binnom-Williams made his debut for the O’s while Nigel Atangana came into central midfield with Armand Gnanduillet partnering Jay Simpson in attack.

Orient moved to a 4-4-2 formation after playing a 4-5-1 formation in the last two games. Sammy Moore moved to left midfield while Jobi McAnuff kept his position on the right. McAnuff was lively down the right and his crosses were causing problems in the County defense. Binnom-Williams nearly put through his own net after good work from Jason Bantom saw the right winger cross into the box. Binnom-Williams’s clearance was miss timed and flew across the Orient goal for a throw in.

In a game avoid of any football with both sides guilty of giving the ball away throughout the first period. The ball spent more time in the air and out of play rather than on the floor. Neither side had a creative spark which looked to unlock the door as the half faded out. Armand Gnanduillet was making his first start for the O’s but was flattering to deceive with his hold up play non existent at times.

Shaun Brisley and Mathieu Baudry were dealing very well with the aerial balls played forward and it was Brisley who had the only real chance of the half. Following a Sammy Moore free kick, Brisley was unmarked at the back post but his header was blocked for a corner. The game faded out to a draw at half time with Orient still without a first half goal under Kevin Nolan.

Despite having a teamtalk the second half still lacked any real quality or football  to excite the onlooking crowd. Alan Smith fired wide before David Noble called Alex Ciask into action after he palmed away an effort from distance. County had only picked up 4 of their home points against the the top half of the table and with home crowd getting restless, Orient looked to strike.

Jay Simpson who had fed on scraps for much of the game linked up well with Nolan, the ball fell to Armand Gnanduillet on the edge of the box but the January signing from Chesterfield fired over from outside the box. Ollie Palmer replaced Gnanduillet and provided an instant impact in attack.

Orient went within inches of taking the lead, Mathieu Baudry rose highest from a Sammy Moore corner. However with the Frenchman’s header looking destined to hit the back of the net, Curtis Thompson cleared off the line to keep his side in the game. Callum Jahraldo Martin replaced Sammy Moore on the left with Orient looking to grab the late winner.

Hayden Hollis fired over following a scramble in the Orient box but County rarely threatened Alex Ciask. The two substitutes were providing Orient with more attacking prowess, Jahraldo Martin’s pace and directness was causing problems down the left. His work forced a corner which led to the winner. Having the worse record for conceding goals in last 15 minutes, County continued that record as Shaun Brisley forced home the opener. After the corner wasn’t cleared, the ball was kept alive in the County area leaving Brisley to volley home his first goal for the club.

Orient had kept three clean sheets in five games under Nolan but began to sit deeper inviting pressure onto them. Palmer and Jahraldo Martin provided outlets for Orient when they looked to attack and Simpson pulled a shot wide as Orient failed to add to their lead. Izale McLeod headed straight into Ciask before Jon Stead headed County’s last chance over as Orient picked up their third consecutive away win with three consecutive clean sheets.

Well, probably the worse game of football I have watched this season. Avoid of any football or even periods with the ball on the floor. But once again Orient’s inconsistent form continues, the question is whether Orient can avoid the sequence next weekend at home to Crawley. Orient took their chance in a dire game and that is probably a too generous term for the game.

It was a game where Orient would have lost 1-0 under Ian Hendon but Nolan’s tactics are not nice to watch. The ball was pumped long with little change but when the ball was passed around a little bit, Orient looked more creative. The defence were rarely threatened with Shaun Brisley building a good partnership with Mathieu Baudry. Binnom- Williams on yesterday’s evidence looks no better than Frazer Shaw at left back and at times could not keep the ball in play.

A third consecutive away clean sheet and Orient’s fourth in six games under Kevin Nolan. The former West Ham man has definitely the defensive stability of Orient and when the East London side take the lead, there is more faith that they will see the game out. All the players were guilt of mistakes and miss placed passes but surely the manager himself has to realise that on the last two performances, he cannot play next weekend.

Harsh or not, Nolan was the worst player in an Orient shirt against Northampton and kept his place yesterday. Yesterday, was much of the same and as I have said previously I think starting him adds more pressure on Orient to gain a result.

3 points is 3 points no matter now it comes. It will read the same at the end of the season as a 4-0 win apart from the goal difference. Orient have three key games coming up with picking up results in all three imperative to keep Orient’s aim of the play offs in tact. The League is so tight but Nolan next aim is to crack the home record and produce a performance to beat Crawley next weened. Orient’s bogey side, so who would bet on a Crawley victory next weekend?

It wasn’t pretty at all but a result is a result but I prefer the 1-0 victories at Portsmouth to 1-0 victories at County. The win was all that matters but blimey it wasn’t one to remember. 

Four! Out of the way, the Cobblers are on the way to League 1. Northampton picked up their seventh straight win to increase their lead to 5 points at the top of the table. Four second half goals brushed aside play off hopefuls Leyton Orient who dropped to ninth after the defeat. Rod McDonald hooked in the opener before Ricky Holmes’s fantastic volley doubled the advantage. A late James Collins double added icing to what looks like a promotion cake for the Cobblers who have a 15 point lead over fourth placed Wycombe with a game in hand.

Northampton made a late change to their side with Danny Rose coming in for Joel Byrom who got injured in the warm up while Kevin Nolan named an unchanged after his side’s victory at Portsmouth last weekend.

Northampton Starting 11

Orient’s starting 11

In an even start both sides enjoyed spells of possession but were unable to create any clear cut openings. The Cobblers, who had won their previous 6 league matches, were full of confidence passing the ball around nicely. James Collins should have given the away side the lead after Ricky Holmes did well on the right, his cross found Collins unmarked at the back post but his volley went wide of the target.

Orient created many chances at Portsmouth last weekend, but struggled to create going forward with the forward balls being dealt with easily by the Northampton defense. It appeared that the home sides tactic was to try and find Simpson and Nolan over the top with through balls. It did create Orient’s first chance of the game, Nolan dispossessed David Buchanan on the right, he found Jobi McAnuff but his shot was saved well by Adam Smith.

The game opened up a bit more after the half hour mark with Orient enjoying more possession but were failing to trouble the Northampton goal. After a succession of blocked shots in the Northampton penalty area, Sammy Moore picked up the loose ball however his driven cross went just past the head of Jay Simpson.

Neither side made any changes at the break but it was the away side who came out the blocks firing and took the lead after 54 minutes. After Lee Martin lost possession on the left wing, Sammy Moore and Jack Payne failed to clear the ball presenting it back to Martin. The former Millwall man reached the byline crossing in to the center, the ball then fell to Rod McDonald who executed an overhead kick leaving Alex Cisak helpless in the Orient goal.

After taking the lead it was clear that the away side did not want to let the lead slip with the midfield four working extremely hard defensively. The goal seemed to increase their confidence and they doubled their lead 9 minutes after their first. A long ball from Adam Smith was headed away by Fraser Shaw,  Ricky Holmes gambled on picking up the loose ball. Holmes took the ball down and unleashed a stunning dipping volley which beat Cisak.

Armand Gnanduillet was brought on in place of Calaum Jahraldo-Martin as they went to a 4-4-2 formation. Northampton were comfortable with Orient still finding it hard to break down the well drilled side. Gnanduillet nearly created a way back into the game for Orient though, after being found by McAnuff in the penalty area, his cross shot went agonizingly past the boot of Kevin Nolan.

Orient continued to press for a route back into the game with Simpson seeing an effort go just past the post. After a cross from Fraser Shaw the ball fell to Simpson with his back to goal, he turned well but his effort crept just wide of the mark. The away side still looked like adding to their two goals and did from a  corner. After the ball was whipped it, the ball fell to James Collins who had the easy task of slotting home from 3 yards.

It got worse for the home side when Northampton added a fourth, a break from substitute Lawson D’Ath carving the home side open. He played in James Collins who kept himself onside and he fired low beyond Cisak to add gloss to a clinical victory for the league leaders.

1 step forward and 2 steps back. After what was a brilliant away victory last weekend, Orient always seem to encourage you before letting you down once more. There was nothing between the sides in the first half  with neither side able to create any clear cut openings. However the second half was a different story where the League leaders wanted the game more, first to every second ball, winning tackles, strong in the air, winning the 50/50 challenges. 

The first goal was the killer but again it was Orient’s own downfall which presented the chance for them. If in doubt, kick the ball out, a lot happened after the cross into the box but you can reduce the chance of conceding. It was a great finish by the center half who will probably tell you it was the sweetest overhead kick he has ever hit.

The goal saw Northampton go into cruise control and they never looked likely to concede an equaliser. The quality they showed in the second half highlights why they are top of the league and sometimes you just have to put your hands up when Ricky Holmes unleashes a wonderful dipping volley.

The worrying thing for Kevin Nolan is when Orient concede a goal, the floodgates open and it’s 2,3,4. Northampton didn’t create chance after chance but the key to any game and why they are top is how clinical they are in attacking areas. It is a wake up call for Orient, who have been shown exactly what you need in order to be in touching distance of promotion.

I think Nolan will realise that you can’t play a 4-5-1 formation at home, it works in away matches but you struggle to create at home. In home games, teams expect you to be on the front foot and you won’t have space to break like last weekend. With Nolan at Orient, teams must come to Brisbane Road and looking for a scalp and I think playing Nolan from the start increases the pressure on the side.

Nolan looked off the pace in the second half and really should have been taken off. Nolan states that Andy Hessenhaler makes the decisions if he starts the game. However Nolan must of realised that he was off the pace yesterday? Well, time to put the game to bed and like he said last week, it is only one game, time to get back on the front foot next weekend at Notts County.

Leyton Orient defender Nicky Hunt hopes his side can make a statement to the rest of League 2 when they host league leaders Northampton tomorrow. Hunt made his debut in his sides 1-0 away victory at Portsmouth and hopes his side can make it 4 wins from 5 games under player manager Kevin Nolan.

• Orient sit 7th on 46 points, 1 point ahead of 8th placed Portsmouth

Hunt joined from Mansfield on deadline day and has settled in well to life in London. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s crunch match against the Cobblers to leytonorient.com, “the lads have been great along with the playing staff. It has been a really nice experience coming into new surroundings. I have really settled in”.

• League Record – P30 W12 D10  L8  F46  A41
• Form in last 8 – W4 D1 L3
• Home Form – P15  W7  D4  L4  F25  A19
• Only Carlisle (27), Notts County and Northampton (26) have scored more home goals than Orient
• Last Home games (most recent first) – LWLWDDDW

The win at Portsmouth gave Orient their third clean sheet in four matches something which Hunt knows is imperative to challenge at the top, “it is always nice to keep a clean sheet, the gaffer keeps harping on about, clean sheets win matches. We proved on Saturday that if we keep the back door closed we always have a chance of scoring goals with the attacking players in the team”.

• Kept 7 clean sheets – 4 of them at home
• Have won 3 of the 4 games since Nolan’s appointment
• Both teams have scored in 21 of their 30 league games and 10 of their 15 home games

The former Bolton full back played alongside Nolan for nine years at the Reebok Stadium and feels that his former teammate has instilled belief into the squad since his arrival, “he has brought a sense of believing in our own ability, he wants us to go out and express on the pitch. You can see that in the last 4 games the lads are really enjoying their football”.

• Only failed to score in 2 league games
• Scored in 15 of their 17 home matches in all competitions
• Have scored in their last 14 league matches
• There has been at least  1 goal in every league match

Despite Northampton sitting top of the table, Hunt feels that it is a big game for them too, “we are more than capable of showing the whole league, making a statement that we are up there on merit, we only want to climb higher in the league. It is a great test for us but it is massive for them to come it our home ground and try and beat us”

Kevin Nolan was very happy with how his side responded to their home defeat to Cambridge at Fratton Park last weekend. Speaking after the win to leytonorient.com “The last game was not us and not what I except. Today you have seen a different team and they did exactly what was asked of them. We have proved now what the standards are and we have to keep them”.

• 6 of their 12 wins have been by at least 2 goals
• 26 of their 46 goals have been scored in the second half
• 15 of their 25 home goals have been scored in the second half 
• Only Portsmouth (18) have scored more home goals in the second half
• Only 1 of Orient’s last 8 goals have been in the second half (Palmer vs Exeter)
• Orient have not scored a first half goal under Nolan

The win moved Orient back into the play off mix but Nolan was quick to play down the significance of the result at a playoff rival. “It was a fantastic win but it is only three points, playing your rivals the three points feels better. Our feet our firmly on the ground and we will make sure that on Monday we start preparing for Northampton”.

• Orient have scored 20 goals in the final 30 minutes of matches
• They would sit 11th if games ended after 60 minutes
• 50% of Orient’s match have seen over 2.5 goals

Nolan’s side were backed by more than 1000 away fans at Portsmouth last weekend which surprised the former West Ham man. “I wasn’t expecting that, the support has been incredible since I took over”. Nicky Hunt echoed his managers thoughts and acknowledges that his side have to make Brisbane Road a fortress till the end of the season, “we want to start on Saturday, the plan is to win the game and with the fans behind us it should be a great experience for all the lads”.

• Record Scoring first – W11  D5  L3  home- W6  D1  L1
• Only Northampton (19) and Oxford (18) have scored first in more games than Orient
• Record conceding first – W1  D5  L5  home- W1  D3  L2
• Have only won 1 of their last 15 league matches conceding first (3-2 vs Portsmouth on Boxing Day)

Hunt and other debutant Shaun Brisley slotted into the back four seemingly at Portsmouth which Hunt knows is never easy to do. But speaking to leytonorient.com “everybody is working hard for each other, even the lads out of the team are working hard to get back into the side. We have trained hard and overall the back four looked pretty settled Saturday, long may it continue. 

• Orient have only lost 1 of their 10 games played against the top eight (2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers)
• 27 of their 46 points have come against the bottom half of the league
• Record against the top half – P15  W4  D7  L4

Northampton arrive in E10 as the form side in the country since their winding up petition handed to them back in October. The Cobblers continued their fine form which has seen them go four points clear at the top of league 2 with a 2-0 victory over York on Saturday. Goals from John Joe-O’Toole and Marc Richards saw Chris Wilder’s side increase their lead over fourth placed Mansfield to 13 points.

Since October 20th – W13  D1  L1  F32  A15   

• Form (most recent first): WWWWWWLWWWWDWW
• Collecting 40 points from a possible 45. They have collected 12 more points than any other club in League 2 in that period. 
• Their only defeat came in a 2-1 home defeat Portsmouth
• None of the 92 clubs in the top four divisions in England have taken more points than Northampton in that period.

Wilder took over Northampton just over two years ago when the Cobblers sat six points adrift at the bottom of League two. Wilder has turned around their fortunes and knows it was not an easy task. Speaking to northamptonfc.o.uk yesterday, “we have worked extremely hard,everybody behind the scenes has done really well. There has been a big change in personnel and style, the results where we were and where we are now highlights the big change in mentality and attitude of the group”.

• League Record – P28 W19 D4 L5  F51  A31
• Top scorers in the league
• Form in last 8 – W7 L1  F18  A8
• Won there last 6 league games
• Away Record – P13  W8  D3  L2  F25  A19
• Only Morecambe (27) have scored more goals away from home
• Last away games (most recent first) – LWWWWWD  (Bold – cup games)

Defender Ryan Cresswell felt his side battled horrendous conditions to pick up their sixth straight win in the league against York. Speaking after the match to northamptonfc.co.uk, “it was tough out there, the wind played havoc but overall we dealt with it better and it is why we won”. Cressswell came back into the side having missed out on the previous three games and understands that with his side where they are, competition for places is fierce “we have four center halves who could play in any league two side, it is healthy competition, once you get the shirt you have to keep it”.

• Kept 8 clean sheets – only 1 away from home
• Have conceding at least once in their last 16 away games in all competitions
• Only have 1 clean sheet in their last 24 away games in all competitions
• Both Teams have scored in 18 of their 28 league matches and 11 of their 13 away matches
• 13 of their 19 wins have been by 1 goal and 7 of their 8 away wins

Cresswell praised his sides professional attitude  but knows that they have to stay grounded as anything can happen in football. “You have to stick together in this league, we all want the same aim, promotion, we want it on our CV, we work hard in the week. We stay firmly grounded and take every game as it comes, hopefully digging out performances and putting a show on for the fans”

• Failed to score in 2 league matches – both of them in August
• Have scored in their last 24 league matches
• Scored 25 of their 51 goals between 30-60 minutes, not team has scored more in that period
• 14 of their 25 away goals have been scored in that period
• Scored 16 goals in the opening 30 minutes, the joint most in the division
• But only netted 10 goals in the final 30 minutes of games, the worse in the league

Wilder is relishing his first meeting with Kevin Nolan tomorrow, “we are really looking forward to the game, we have fantastic games coming up, we are playing with freedom and a real positive attitude with the run we are on. It has not been given to us, we have had to work hard for it but to get those wins we have done a lot of thing right”  Wilder continued “we recognise big clubs in the division, we had a great game with Orient earlier in the season”

• Northampton face Oxford at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday
• They have led for 1118 minutes this season, the most in the league and 265 more than any other side in League 2
• They have only trailed for 287 minutes in games
• 61% of their games have seen over 2.5 goals
• 33% of their goals have come from set pieces – either corners or free kicks – 16/49
• 22% of their goals have come from corners – 11/49
• 5 of their 7 goals have been from set pieces. 

Read more about the threats of Northampton Town – Cobblers in Town

Shaun Brisley played the first half of the season for Northampton and Wilder knows that Orient have added well in the January window “they have kept a lot of good players and added well. They are formidable opposition, they will be looking to win four out of five games. Their season is not dead they there is plenty of life in their season. People in this league don’t want to lose games”

• Record scoring first – W14  D3  L2  away W5 D2
• No team has opened the scoring more this season
• Record conceding first – W5 D1  L3 – away W3 D1 L2
• Have won their last 4 and 5 of their last 6 after falling behind
• Only Wimbledon (16) have taken as many points from losing positions

It is a rarity to have player managers in the football league but Wilder knows that Orient have the backroom staff to make the appointment work, “I should imagine he will think he is good enough to have a desired effect to improve the team. You have to have a good number two and in Andy Hessenhaler they have that”.

• Record against top half  – P13  W7  D3 L3

The former Oxford manager is fully aware of threat that Orient could pose to them at Brisbane Road tomorrow, “they beat Portsmouth on Saturday and by all reports we read they comfortably did and should have beaten them by 2 or 3. They will be full of confidence and Kevin will be thinking that if they go on a good run they could sneak into the automatics come the end of the season”

Team News

Kevin Nolan could name an unchanged side tomorrow with Nicky Hunt and Shaun Brisley set to keep their place in defense. Nigel Atangana could return to the side after Nolan left out the January recruit at Portsmouth after a gentlenman’s agreement between the sides. Paul McCallum and Dean Cox continue their comeback from injury but are still away off while Lloyd James is nearing full fitness.

Nolan is looking for more of the same from his squad tomorrow, speaking to the East London Advertiser today “we are looking for more of the same, we want to put in a good, solid performance and show lots of quality. It is going to be another tough game and need to make sure we impose ourselves then get the three points”

Northampton should have defender Zander Diamond available after being taken off against York with concussion. Lawson D’Ath is fit along with Luke Prosser and Danny Rose but with competition for places, Wilder understands that some players may be left out.

Head to Head- Leyton Orient 28 Draw 21 Northampton 29

Last Meeting – 26/09/15 – Northampton 1-1 Leyton Orient

• Orient are unbeaten in the last 3 meetings between the sides
• They are without a win in the last six league meetings
• Last league win came in a 1-0 victory in 2006
• Orient have only won 1 of the last 5 games at Brisbane Road, a 2-0 JPT victory in 2014
• Both teams have scored in 4 of the last 5 meetings
• 3 of the last league games have been draws
• Northampton last won at Brisbane Road in 2009, (3-1 win)

Prediction – Leyton Orient 2-2 Northampton

Kevin Nolan’s Leyton Orient side host leaders Northampton Town on Saturday. In another crunch match for the former West Ham midfielder, the Cobblers will provide a huge test to his managerial credentials.

Chris Wilder’s Cobblers arrive in E10 top of the table with a five point lead over second placed Plymouth. Northampton have a 13 point gap to fourth placed Mansfield and are in prime position to secure promotion to League 1.

Northampton suffered a major setback with their redevelopment of Sixfields earlier in the season when HMRC Revenue and Customers served a winding position. After unpaid taxes by the club, work on the new East Stand was halted and a petition was served to the club. However this seemed to pull everyone in the club together as they strived to overcome the problems and push on.

HMRC’s petiton was handed to Northampton on the 15th October and since then Wilder’s men have been unstoppable in their climb to the top of League 2.

Form

Since October 20th – W13  D1  L1  F32  A15   

Form (most recent first): WWWWWWLWWWWDWW

• Collecting 40 points from a possible 45. They have collected 12 more points than any other club in League 2 in that period. 
• Their only defeat came in a 2-1 home defeat Portsmouth
• None of the 92 clubs in the top four divisions in England have taken more points than Northampton in that period.

Away Record – P13  W8  D3  L2  F25  A19

Last Time Out

The Cobblers have won their last 6 league matches, only conceding 3 goals. Their last game was a 2-0 home win against York City last Saturday with goals from John Joe-O’Toole and Marc Richards.

• They press high in the final third putting pressure on the opposition back four
• They can counter attack very well with 4 or 5 men breaking from deep
• They struggle to defend set pieces with keeper Adam Smith not comfortable coming for crosses

Top Scorers – Marc Richards 14, John Joe-O’Toole 7, Will Hoskins 5

Top Assists – Nicky Adams 12, Joel Byrom 4, Ricky Holmes 4, David Buchanan 3

Where do they Score from?

Northampton are very dangerous from set pieces. It is imperative that Orient stay switched on from dead balls and know exactly who they are marking. Chris Wilder’s men have scored 3 of their goals from either a free kick routine or taking a quick free kick:

Wycombe Away – Header from Free kick 

Luton Away – O’Toole Finish 

Morecambe Home – 1st Goal, Collins

Northampton have scored 51 goals this season and are the highest scorers in the division. Taking away the 2 penalties they have scored, they have 49 goals. 

• 33% of their goals have come from set pieces – either corners or free kicks – 16/49
• 22% of their goals have come from corners – 11/49
• John Joe-O’Toole is a major threat, likes front post runs

Dead balls are a major strength for Chris Wilder’s side, 5 of their 7 goals have been from set pieces. 

Along with their set piece prowess, Northampton love to play the ball wide and cross into the box to score goals.

30 of their 51 goals have been from crosses into the box from either the right or the left – 59%. 

Away Goals Scored – 25

Right: 16% – 4     Left: 32% – 8   Center:  52% -13

Where they Concede From

Northampton are very attacking in forward areas but another key to their fine form has been they defensive stability and the form of keeper Adam Smith which Orient fans will know all to well.

From watching their previous games, it appears that Northampton are a strong side, defending from the front to prevent teams from exposing them. Dagenham had a lot of joy putting balls in the channels between the full back and center half with their striker running onto balls.

Balls over the top of the defense can exploit their back four with a number of goals being conceded with them being caught by a lack of pace

Goals Conceded 31

Right – 19% – 6                  Left – 16%  – 5              Center – 65%   – 20

Another key aspect is despite their set piece superiority in many games this season, the Cobblers look very vulnerable to defending set pieces into their box. Adam Smith in many games has failed to claim the ball from a corner, putting his side under pressure. At corners, it appears that they don’t put men on posts which Orient could exploit on Saturday. 

Team Selection 

Chris Wilder has a quality squad at is disposal and can change his team to combat different opposition. For the majority of the season, he has changed between a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formation depending on the personal he has available. For their last away league match at Plymouth, who were second at the time, they played 4-4-2. 

Team against York last week – 

However, Wilder’s side has been built on constant presences throughout their recent run of form. Adam Smith, Brendan Moloney, Zander Diamond, John Joe-O’Toole and Joel Byron have all played in the club’s last 14 games. 

The league leaders are built solidly with the back four and O’Toole and Byrom in front of them. O’Toole and Byrom provide a shield to the defense with one of them able to join in attacking areas. Wilder likes his teams to have freedom and express themselves in attacking areas. Either in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation the attacking players have license to roam in different areas.

The attacking quartet of Nicky Adams (12), Ricky Holmes (4), Alfie Potter (2) and Lawson D’Ath have created 20 of their 51 goals this season. All four of these players have the ability to cross from wide areas and have good feet to cross from either side.

A key for Nolan’s men is to ensure that Northampton do not have space to cross in to the box. The center halves will need to be aware of Marc Richards’s run across the near post as it has been a tactic in games this season.

After Orient’s performance at Portsmouth last weekend, it is clear that Kevin Nolan will do his homework on Northampton and how to overcome the test they possess. 4-5-1 was used at Fratton Park last weekend and I would not be surprised if Nolan went with the same system at Brisbane Road.

Nolan should be asking Shaun Brisley of their tactics as he did play for the Cobblers earlier in the year and will know of the strengths of them.

Probable Teams for Saturday

Jobi McAnuff’s wonder strike 8 minutes into the second half gave Leyton Orient player manager Kevin Nolan his 3rd win in 4 games. Nolan wanted his side to bounce back from defeat last weekend to Cambridge and they did just that. A third win and third clean sheet, in what was a perfect away performance. Orient should have had more than one with Nolan clipping the bar, Jay Simpson missing two chances and second half substitute Armand Gnaduillet hitting the post. The win moves Orient back in to the play off places ahead of next week’s clash with league leaders Northampton.

Portsmouth manager Paul Cook made 3 changes to the side that drew 1-1 away at Morecambe on Tuesday night. Kieran Freeman, Christian Burgess and Gary Roberts replaced Ben Davies, Gareth Evans and Adam Webster who dropped to the bench.

Orient player manager Kevin Nolan made 4 change to his side that lost 3-1 at home to Cambridge last weekend. Sammy Moore came in for Nigel Atangana who missed the trip while Nolan himself started ahead of Ollie Palmer. January signings Nicky Hunt and Shaun Brisley made their debuts ahead of Sean Clohessy and Connor Essam who dropped to the bench.

Neither side were able to gain a foothold in the game in the opening exchanges, Kyle Bennett had an early shot for the home side but it was easily gathered by Orient keeper Alex Cisak. Portsmouth were enjoying large spells of possession without really penetrating Orient’s defense.

Portsmouth Attacking

Orient Defensively

It was clear from the outset that Nolan had set his team up with a plan to stop Portsmouth playing and frustrating the home side. It was working with Orient keeping compact, disciplined and in shape. Cook’s men were looking to switch play trying to create openings but both Jobi McAnuff and Callum Jahraldo Martin were doing excellent jobs of marshaling Portsmouth’s high full backs.

Orient’s game plan was nearly undone on the half hour mark, after Nicky Hunt thought the ball had gone out of play on the right hand side, Kyle Bennett nipped in. Bennett linked with Michael Smith who played in Marc McNulty who broke in the penalty area however Cisak was quick off of his line to snuff the danger out.

With the home side becoming frustrated about the lack of openings, Nolan’s men began to grow in confidence. Jahraldo Martin blazed over in the box on the left while Jobi McAnuff was causing Enda Stevens all kinds of problems down the right winning free kicks for his side.

O’s captain Mathieu Baudry headed into the side netting from an McAnuff free kick before Kyle Bennett fired narrowly over after finding space just outside the Orient area. The away side could have taken the lead right on half time, after the busy McAnuff picked the ball up on the right he crossed in to the center. However the late arriving Sammy Moore headed the wrong side of the near post as the scores were level at the break.

Neither side made any changes at the break but it was Nolan’s men who were out of the blocks like a shot. Good work down the right saw McAnuff cross to the back post however a brilliant clearing header from Christian Burgess prevented Nolan from heading home. The O’s continued pressing for the opening goal and Nolan should have put his side ahead on 49 minutes. After the ball broke to Jack Payne on the edge of the box his shot ricocheted to Nolan at the back post however the former West Ham and Bolton midfielder could only hit the bar with his effort.

Would Orient rue their missed chances, well just 4 minutes after Nolan’s miss, McAnuff put his side ahead. What a goal it was too, after Jay Simpson’s run from the right was halted, the ball fell invitingly to McAnuff on the edge of the box. The former Reading captain unleashed a fantastic curling, dipping effort which left Ryan Fulton helpless in the Pompey goal and sent the 1031 travelling supporters into raptures.

Orient deserved their lead and nearly doubled their lead but Mathieu Baudry could only head wide from a McAnuff corner. Cook introduced Gareth Evans looking for a response from his side however it was Orient who continued to look threatening. The midfield trio of Nolan, Moore and Payne were breaking up Pompey’s play while Jobi McAnuff was a constant menace on the right hand side for the visitors.

Portsmouth looked avoid of ideas in attack and threw on Adam McGurk and Connor Chaplin to try and salvage a result. But Orient’s defense held firm with top scorer Jay Simpson surprisingly miss firing in front of goal. Simpson had struck 22 times for Orient in the league this season and really should have added to his tally. First after Portsmouth failed to clear, Jahraldo Martin and Nicky Hunt had efforts blocked, Nolan headed back to Simpson but the Orient forward was leaning back and his effort flew over. Then following a brilliant break from McAnuff, he crossed to Simpson who headed straight at Fulton 6 yards out.

Orient then made 3 substitutions looking to see the game out with Bradley Pritchard, Sean Clohessy and Armand Gnanduillet coming on for Nolan, Moore and Simpson as the away side looked to cement their lead. For all Portsmouth’s possession they still remained unable to break down Orient’s solid defense and once more had another opportunity to make the game safe. Clohessy who moved to the right hand side after his introduction linked up with Gnanduillet, he crossed for the striker but the January arrival saw his left foot volley cannon off the post.

As the game ticked into added time, Pompey continued to throw men forward looking to equalize. However Orient’s back line held firm with two stunning late blocks from Nicky Hunt keeping the lead in tact and giving Orient a precious away win with a wonderful team performance.

A perfect away day for Kevin Nolan’s men, a thoroughly deserved 3 points and I don’t think anyone who was at Fratton Park could have begrudged Orient them. The O’s should have had more and on another day they would have done but the most pleasing thing was another clean sheet. Our 3rd clean sheet in 4 matches something that seemed lunacy only a month ago. But Nolan seems to have instilled a defensive stability which was missing under previous manager Ian Hendon.

Shaun Brisley and Nicky Hunt look really good additions in the team but it would be terribly unfair to single any players defensively display out. From the 1st minute to the last, the game plan from Nolan was simple, be tight, compact, disciplined and strike when you have the chance. He got the personnel exactly right, I myself have called for 3 in midfield in several games this year, we have looked vulnerable in many games but Nolan foresaw that.

The return of Sammy Moore was a much needed boost and with Jack Payne having arguably his best game in an Orient shirt, the coming games look rosier. It is no surprise that Payne played exceptionally well when playing in a midfield 3, like I have said many times previously I feel that you get the best out of Jack Payne when he plays as part of a 3. It gives if more opportunity to pass the ball, tackle and dictate a game with Orient having more control in the middle of the park. I think @les_bristow was glad about the three in midfield after him having to listen to me call for that for the last 2 months.

Every player was fully committed to the course today but a special mention has to go to Jobi McAnuff. A player who has struggled with life at Brisbane Road and I think the player himself would tell you that he wasn’t exactly great last season. However since his re-emergence after his disappearance at the start of the season, he has been a completely different player. A wonderful display capped with a stunning goal, a willing runner and nearly all of Orient’s chances came from him. His experience could be key in the end of season run in.

“Today you have seen a different team” were the words used by Kevin Nolan in his post match interview with leytonorient.com. I think everyone of the 1030 O’s supporters there yesterday could see that; Orient shut out a third team in the space of four games. Nolan appears very grounded, honest and realises that it is just one win; 3 points. The mood has changed around Brisbane Road with Nolan’s work on the training ground being shown on in the results.

How a week changes, a terrible, mistake filled 3-1 defeat to Cambridge followed by a stunning 1-0 victory at Portsmouth. People say how can a team do that, well isn’t that why we love Orient. For all of the bad results this season, that trip will go down as one to remember and hopefully there are many more till the end of the season.

Northampton arrive in East London next weekend as league leaders. It will be a tough game but yesterday’s performance highlighted that Orient have the ability to beat any team in the division, it is just what Orient turns up on the day. I know that under Nolan, we appear to have a manager who has made Orient hard to break down and long may that continue…

Kevin Nolan believes his deadline day additions can add to his squad enough to challenge for promotion at the end of the season. Nolan added defenders Nicky Hunt and Jerome Binnom-Williams on Monday and hopes that the arrivals of the two can “add some good rivalry between players, we want the lads to ensure that standards don’t slip. We are all going to be needed till the end of season”.

• Sit 9th on 43 points, 1 point outside playoffs
• League Record – P29  W11  D10  L8  F45  A41
• Form last in last 8 – W3  D2  L3  F12  A13
• Away Record  – P14  W4  D6  L4  F20  A22
• Last Away games – WDLLDDLW

Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Portsmouth, Nolan reflected on his sides defeat to Cambridge last weekend to leytonorient.com, “not doing the simple basics right, in the end cost us the game”. Orient were the own worst enemy with all three of Cambridge’s goals coming from individuals errors something which Nolan hopes his side have to stop “that was the most disappointing thing, they didn’t create anything apart from us gifting them 3 opportunities”.

• Only Cambridge have conceded as many goals as Orient in the top half
• Kept 6 clean sheets, 2 away from home
• Kept 2 clean sheets in their last 3 games
• Conceded 2 or more goals in 5 of their last 7 games
• There has been at least one goal in every Orient league match

After a hectic first week in charge at Brisbane Road, Nolan was able to spend more time with squad this week ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Fratton Park. Nolan, who has made two appearances of the bench so far, played in a reserve team fixture on Tuesday afternoon. Orient beat Southend 4-1 with Nolan stating “I was very pleased, it was nice to start a game. I got 45 minutes but had to come off a bit early after a knock to the knee hopefully it is okay for the weekend”.

• Only failed to score in 2 of their 29 league games (home to Accrington, away to Exeter)
• No team has a better record than Orient
• Scored in 13 of their 15 away games and their last 13 league matches
• Netted in 31 of their last 33 league matches
• Last 0-0 draw came against Barnsley (17/03/15) – 39 matches ago

Despite the disappointment of last weekend’s defeat, Nolan knows that it is not good to dwell on the performance, “I had my say on the performance so we put the Cambridge performance firmly behind us”. Orient’s player manager understands that key to picking up results is his side retaining possession more in games. Nolan stated that “we are looking to improve our turnover of possession, even though we had two great wins, we still can be better with the ball. We are trying to drill into them that they need to be comfortable and enjoy having the ball”.

• Both teams have scored in 21 of their 29 games and 11 of their 14 away games
• Conceded 18 of their 41 goals between 31-60 minutes
• Only Dagenham (20), Morecambe and Newport (19) have conceded more in that period
• 8 of their 22 away goals conceded have been in that period – no team has conceded more away from home in that period
• 20 of their 45 goals scored have been in the last 30 minutes of games
• Orient would sit 12th if games ended after 60 minutes 

Nolan knows that come the end of the season the aim has remained from the president, speaking to the East London advertiser earlier in the week, “the ultimate aim is to make sure come the end of the season we are in those play off places or even higher but it is 1 game at a time”. He added “we can’t get carried away with ourselves, it is a process we are going through at the moment. We are trying to make sure that we keep our feet firmly on the ground”.

• Only 8 points separates Bristol Rovers in 4th (47) and  Carlisle in 13th (39)

With Hunt and Binnom-Williams arrival on Monday, it takes Orient’s dealings to 6 in January. Both new arrivals are eager to get started at Brisbane Road, Binnom-Williams stated to leytonorient.com today “I have settled in well and feel comfortable. I know Paul, Blair and Frazer which made it easy”. Hunt played alongside Nolan for 9 years at Bolton earlier in his career stated “it was a too goo opportunity for me to turn down”. Hunt, 32, acknowledges that he can add much needed experience to the squad and wants to fight for his place in the side.

• Opened the scoring in 5 away matches in the first 15 minutes of games
• Record scoring first – W10 D4 L3  away W4 D3 L2
• Have only won 2 of their last 7 scoring first
• Record conceding first – W1 D6 L5  away W0 D3 L2
• Not win their last 10 away games conceding first – last win came at Chesterfield,     3-2 (14/02/15)
• Have only won 1 of their last 16 league matches conceding first

Orient beat Portsmouth 3-2 in a Boxing Day cracker with Nolan understanding exactly what the south coast club will be about tomorrow, “They are a good side, free flowing, like to play football and all are good on the ball”. Nolan added “They are exactly what Cook and Richardson are about, they leave everything on the pitch. We have to match them tomorrow and make sure we exploit their weaknesses”.

• Have drew 7 of their 15 games against the top half, 6 of them ended 1-1
• Taken only 16 of their 43 points against top half (38%)
• Only lost 2 of 10 matches against the top 8 sides (1-0 Accrington, 2-1 Bristol R)

Portsmouth head into tomorrow’s clash after picking up a draw away at Morecambe on Tuesday night. Gareth Evans gave Pompey the lead before Morecambe keeper Barry Roche equalised right at the death. Manager Paul Cook reflected on the result to portsmouthfc.co.uk earlier today “we came back and looked at everything but sometimes football is a cruel game. We went up there to do a professional job, we didn’t play well but nearly dug out a really good win”.

• Sit 5th on 45 points, 6 point off 3rd placed Oxford
• League Record – P27  W11  D12  L4  F45  A24
• Form in last 8 – W3  D3  L2  F14  A8
• Home record – P14  W5  D7  L2  F24  A8
• Last home games (most recent first) – LLWWDWW
• Only Middebrough (3), Man U (5), Hull City (6) and Arsenal (7) have conceded less goals at home than Portsmouth

Portsmouth have only won 1 of their last 5 games in all competitions but Cook knows that the results doesn’t really change his sides aim at the end of the season. “The players showed great character, it was hugely disappointing but in reality in doesn’t change a great deal, if we are going to be where we want to be at the end of the year we have to win games hopefully it could be the start of a good run”.

• Only Oxford (23) have a better defensive record in the league
• Kept 11 clean sheets, joint highest in league with Oxford and Wycombe
• 9 of them have been at home, only Middesbrough (11) have kept more in the top four leagues in England
• No clean sheet in last 5, but 3 of their last 4 home league matches have been clean sheets
• Both teams have scored in 15 of 27 home games and only 4 of their 14 home games

Cook acknowledges that his side are expected to be challenging for promotion with the size of the club however feels that his side put more pressure on themselves. The former Chesterfield manager knows that there is a hell of a lot of football to played and will finish where they deserve to finish. With back to back home games, Cook stated “if we can win tomorrow it would be a great platform to go into Bristol Rovers at home”.

• Failed to score in 7 matches, 6 of them have been at home
• Failed to score in 2 of their last 3 home league matches but scored in 12 of their last 14 matches in all competitions
• 2/3 of their goals have been scored in the second half with 3/4 of their home goals scored in that period
• Including 24 in the last 30 minutes, only Morecambe (26) have scored more in that period
• Would sit 11th if games ended after 60 minutes, gained 8 points in the final 30 minutes of matches

Portsmouth took nearly 500 fans to Morecambe on Tuesday night and Cook was quick to praise the magnificent support his side have, “it is a huge credit to them, my job along with the rest of the staff is to get the players to deliver for them on the pitch”. Cook feels that his side have done nothing wrong 95% of the time but hopes that everyone clubs together till the end of the season, “no-one knows what the end of the season will bring, but the more positivity around the club the better”.

• Record scoring first – W8 D2 L2 – home W4 D1
• Have not lost their last 11 home league scoring first
• Only lost 1 of their last 24 home league matches scoring first (2-1 to Southend, 24/01/15)
• Record conceding first – W3 D4 L2 – home W1 D1 L2

Gareth Evans netted in Portsmouth draw at Morecambe and the boxing day defeat to Orient earlier in the season. Evans knows that despite taking the lead at the Globe Arena, he realises that his side have to put teams to bed, “we could probably do with killing teams off, getting 2 or 3 goals, we need to see games out but unfortunately we couldn’t”. Evans is looking for revenge against Orient tomorrow after the defeat at Christmas, “it was a tough game Boxing day, we dominated the first 20 minutes bu then had a man sent off. We will be looking to get our own back tomorrow”.

• 4 of their 5 home wins have been by at least a 3 goal margin
• They have not won a home game against the top half – D3 L2
• Taken only 17 of their 45 points against the top half
• Top half record – P12  W4  D5  L3

Team News

Kevin Nolan hopes to have a fully fit squad to pick from apart from long term absentees Paul McCallum, Lloyd James and Dean Cox. Sammy Moore will be pushing for a start alongside recent signings Armand Gnanduillet Shaun Brisley, Nicky Hunt and Jerome Binnom-Williams.

Hunt who played against Portsmouth for Mansfield earlier in the season feels he knows what his side have to do to stop them playing. He stated to leytonorient.com “they like passing the ball if you stop them switching the play then I feel you stop the majority of their play. We will look to that and counter them”

Portsmouth manager Paul Cook is without Danny Hollands who remains sidelined while Adam Webster is a doubt. January signings  Kieron Freeman and Michael Smith could make their Fratton Park debuts tomorrow afternoon

Head to Head – Portsmouth 15, Draw 13, Leyton Orient 12

Last Meeting – 26/12/15 – Leyton Orient 3-2 Portsmouth

• Orient have won the last 5 matches
• Both Teams have score in 3 of the last 4 meetings
• Orient have scored at least 3 goals in 3 of the last 4 meetings
• Have netted 7 times in their last 2 visits to Fratton Park (3-2, 2012; 4-1, 2001)
• Portsmouth last beat Orient in 1996, 2-0 in League Cup
• They last beat Orient in the league in 1976, 2-1

Prediction – Portsmouth 2-1 Leyton Orient