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Leyton Orient Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 16/04/2006

THE Mariners continue their hectic Easter schedule with a trip down south to fellow promotion rivals Leyton Orient in a crunch match that will help decide the fate of both side’s promotion campaigns. After Saturday's draw with Shrewsbury it's a game that Grimsby really need to win.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Leyton Orient (a)


The Opposition

Overview
Orient have been in amongst the promotion shake up for much of the season, for the most occupying a play off place. Manager Martin Ling took over in 2003 and has steadily rebuilt the London side, they finished 11th last year despite showing signs that they might have made the play offs. This season they have fared much better, and their ability to grind out some clean sheets, particularly in the last couple of months has hugely aided their promotion push. Generally more of a passing side, Orient have recorded some decent home victories of late with wins over Wycombe, Boston, Darlington and Cheltenham. They haven’t lost at Brisbane Road in their last six, that coming at home to rivals Northampton in mid January.

Their Squad
The O’s have one of the smallest squads in the division but have managed to preserve their fitness for most of the year, which has been a major factor in their success. Keeper Glyn Garner joined in the summer after a successful five-year stay with Bury. The Welshman has kept 12 clean sheets this season, with no small thanks to the defence in front of him. Left back Matt Lockwood has been with the club since 1998, racking up over 300 appearances in the process. Centre half John Mackie provides plenty of experience alongside rising star Gabriel Zakuani who has caught the eye of many with some impressive performances of late. Wayne Corden is a tricky winger who is on loan from neighbours Scunthorpe United. Meanwhile, in the centre of midfield is Michael Simpson (left), who nearly signed for the Mariners in 2004. Orient can call upon four decent strikers. Paul Connor and Gary Alexander have been preferred of late but they also have Jabo Ibehre, a 23 year old with 8 goals this season and also Lee Steele. Steele has had a bit of a stop start season but is still a threat, being a regular scorer for both Brighton and Shrewsbury in recent years.

Key Player
Paul Connor. January transfer window signing from Swansea for £40,000. Connor has netted five goals in eleven starts including the second in a 2-0 win over Boston last weekend. A prolific goalscorer in this league with Rochdale with whom he spent three years with between 2001 and 2004, Connor has proved a valuable addition to the O’s side, forging a decent partnership with ex Hull man Gary Alexander.

Recent Form

TownLeyton Orient
DShrewsbury(h)1-1
LCarlisle(a)0-1
WWrexham(h)2-0
LLincoln(a)0-5
DRochdale(a)2-2
Currently 4th in League Two.
WMansfield(h)1-0
WBoston(a)2-0
DNotts Co(a)1-1
WWycombe(a)1-0
LRushden(h)0-1
Currently 3rd in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownLeyton Orient
Michael Reddy14
Gary Jones13
Alexander14
Ibehre8

Team News

TownLeyton Orient

  • Tom Newey (calf) is a major doubt after limping out of Saturday's match with Shrewsbury just after half time. Gary Croft, however, is a direct replacement at left back.

  • The Mariners are again likely to be without utility player Gary Cohen (knee). Either Andy Parkinson, Ciaran Toner or Junior Mendes will play in Cohen's place.

  • It is hoped Michael Reddy is sufficiently fit to be able to claim a place in the starting line-up after missing the whole of last week's training..
  • Midfielder Daryl McMahon is likely to stay on the sidelines with an ankle problem.

  • Justin Miller is pushing for a start after recovering from a calf strain.
  • Probable Teams

    TownLeyton Orient
    1Steve Mildenhall
    2John McDermott
    20Gary Croft
    12Rob Jones
    6Justin Whittle
    11Andy Parkinson
    32Curtis Woodhouse
    8Paul Bolland
    10Marc Goodfellow
    19Gary Jones
    9Michael Reddy
    1Glyn Garner
    15Justin Miller
    14Gabriel Zakuani
    6John Mackie
    3Matt Lockwood
    4Michael Simpson
    11Joe Keith
    8Craig Easton
    7Wayne Corden
    9Gary Alexander
    18Paul Connor

    Subs

    TownLeyton Orient
    7JPK Kalala
    4Ben Futcher
    31Junior Mendes
    18Ciaran Toner
    25Paul Ashton
    2Donny Barnard
    19Jabo Ibhere
    10Lee Steele
    17Darly McMahon
    12Glenn Morris

    Head to Head

    Town will be comforted by the fact that the Mariners came away from Brisbane Road last season with three points, recording a 2-1 win. Goals from Andy Parkinson and Martin Gritton was enough to give Town the points despite having Ronnie Bull sent off and Efe Echanomi grabbing a late goal for the O’s. Although the O’s had a player sent off themselves with Scott Fitzgerald being dismissed on his Orient debut. He went back to parent club Watford without ever appearing for Martin Ling’s side again. In total, Town have won eight times at Brisbane Road. Yet they will hope to avoid a 5-0 defeat that they suffered towards the end of their Division Four promotion season in 1989.

    P 52 W 22 D 13 L 17 F 79 A 63

    Leyton Orient Head-to-Head (31st on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    The last meeting in October last year was decided by a solitary Craig Easton goal just before half time, which gave Orient all three points. Town struggled to get going and were condemned to their second league defeat in a row after previously losing to Wycombe by the same margin just weeks earlier.

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall ,McDermott ,Whittle ,Robert Jones ,Newey ,Francis ,Bolland ,Kamudimba ,Parkinson (Gritton ,55 ) ,Reddy ,Gary Jones (Cohen ,55 )
    Subs (not used): Ramsden,Barwick,Toner

    Leyton Orient Team: Garner ,Miller ,Zakuani ,Mackie ,Lockwood ,Tudor (Hanson ,89 ) ,Easton ,Simpson ,Keith ,Alexander ,Ibehre (Echanomi ,69 )
    Subs: (not used) Carlisle, Morris, McMahon,

    Attendance: 4,963    Report

    Prediction

    A repeat of last season would be beautiful! 2-1 to the Mariners, please!

    2-1

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Carlisle1-10-10
    Wrexham1-12-00
    Lincoln2-10-50
    Rochdale2-22-23
    Bury1-02-11
    Barnet1-03-01
    Rushden2-11-10
    Mansfield3-11-20
    Boston1-01-03
    Notts Co2-11-01
    Reader's POMs

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    Pubs

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