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Leyton Orient Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 16/09/2004

FOLLOWING the Mariners' dismal loss at Macclesfield last weekend, which marked Town’s third successive defeat, Russell Slade’s men need to instil some confidence into the Grimsby faithful with a good performance against high-flying Leyton Orient.

Home > 2004-2005 Season > Previews > Leyton Orient (h)

The Opposition

Overview
Orient have perhaps surprised a few people with the start they have made to their season. Predicted to struggle by some following their lowly 19th place finish last year, Martin Ling (left) has moulded a team together that is playing some neat, attractive football. Nothing demonstrated this more than their 4-2 victory over much fancied Bristol Rovers last weekend. Much travelled striker Lee Steel revealed this week that the football at Brisbane Road is much better than any other club he’s ever been at - a list that includes Shrewsbury, Brighton and Oxford United. "The football that’s getting played here is better than any other club I’ve been at - it really is". Much of this is to do with their manager Martin Ling who marks his first year anniversary as O’s manager next weekend. He said this week that "there is definitely a belief in the camp at the moment", but like all managers is keen for his side to remember only eight games have been played. But the signs certainly are that Orient are not your archetypal third division "hit it and hope" side, and IF (big if, I know) Town play their passing game on Saturday, we could have a decent, attractive game of football, who knows!

Their Squad
Orient’s longest serving player is Matthew Lockwood, a left back who has also appeared for Bristol Rovers. Lockwood should be popular with Town fans, in the knowledge that it was he who knocked Hull out the play offs in the 2000/01 season when Orient beat the Tigers 2-0 to secure a place in the final, which they then lost to Blackpool. Alan White is a strong centre half who spent four years in the Second division with Colchester United before signing a two year contract with Orient in the summer. A reported target for Russell Slade in the summer was Michael Simpson (left) who spent most of his career at Wycombe Wanderers before being released by Tony Adams in the summer. Simpson plays the "holding role" in central midfield to great effect, and scored his first goal for his new club last weekend.

Another summer signing is Wayne Carlisle who arrived from Bristol Rovers and has already endeared himself to the Brisbane Road fans with some tricky displays down the flank. Gary Alexander will be familiar to Town captain Justin Whittle from his Hull City days. Alexander joined the Os’ in January 2003 and has scored 20 goals in just over 60 games for the London club. He has already netted three this season and will be aided by the presence of strike partner Lee Steele who arrived from Oxford in the summer. A determined and robust striker, Steele was praised by manager Martin Ling this week along with fellow striker Jabo Ibehre who burst onto the scene a few seasons ago with some flamboyant performances. Has since struggled to find any consistency, but when he performs to his potential, can be a menace to the meanest of defences.

Key Player
Gary Alexander is undoubtedly the man to watch for Orient. In a struggling side last season, he managed to hit 16 goals - leading the line tremendously for Martin Ling’s side. A real presence up front, Alexander also has a superb finish on him - making him one of the most envied strikers in the division.

Recent Form

 

TownLeyton Orient
LMacclesfield(a)1-3
LRochdale(h)0-1
LWycombe(a)0-2
WMansfield(h)2-0
WWigan(h)1-0 (cup)
Currently 21st in League Two.
WBristol R(h)4-2
WKidderminster(a)2-1
WRochdale(h)2-1
DNorthampton(a)2-2
LBournemouth(h)1-3 (cup)
Currently 3rd in League Two.

Team News

 

TownLeyton Orient
  • The Mariners will give a debut to new signing Terrell Forbes who arrived this week as cover for Town’s long list of injured defenders. Rob Jones has trained this week but is a little while off full fitness.

  • Justin Whittle is a doubt for the game with a back strain, but should play in a back four of Gordon, Whittle and Forbes. Similarly Stacy Coldicott has a slight knock, but should be fine to be part of the squad

  • Ronnie Bull and Clint Marcelle are pushing for places in the side after playing well in the reserves this week, as will be the likes Michael Reddy and Ashley Sestanovich who were both dropped to the bench last weekend.
  • Martin Ling will hope to name an unchanged side from the one that did so well last week. Andy Scott seems to have come through last weekends game unscathed after a back injury and will continue.

  • John Mackie is still sidelined with a long term injury, whilst Lee Harrison will continue in goal after replacing Glenn Morris in goal a few weeks ago.

    • Probable Teams

     

    TownLeyton Orient
    1Anthony Williams
    28Terrell Forbes
    6Justin Whittle
    24Dean Gordon
    2John McDermott
    15Terry Fleming
    17Thomas Pinault
    8Jason Crowe
    10Andy Parkinson
    27Paul Robinson
    7Ashley Sestanovich
    12Lee Harrison
    3Matthew Lockwood
    5Alan White
    20Gabriel Zakuani
    15Justin Miller
    8David Hunt
    11Andrew Scott
    4Michael Simpson
    7Wayne Carlisle
    9Gary Alexander
    10Lee Steele

    Subs

     

    TownLeyton Orient
    16Ronnie Bull
    11Stacy Coldicott
    3Greg Young
    26Chris Williams
    9Michael Reddy
    19Tom Newey
    17Jabo Ibehre
    1Glenn Morris
    2Donny Barnard
    21Brian Saah

    Head to Head

    Town have quite a long history of playing Orient, dating back to the 1905-1906 season when Town won 2-1. Many of the games between the two clubs came in the old Second Division (now the Championship). In all the sides have met 49 times in the league and cup, winning more than losing

    P 49 W 20 D 13 L 16 F 75 A 61

    Leyton Orient Head-to-Head (30th on The Opposition Ladder).

    Connections

    Lee Thorpe (left) made 43 starts for Leyton Orient after signing from Lincoln City in the summer of 2002. Thorpe struggled to make a positive impact at Brisbane Road, where he was hindered with disciplinary problems. This was ended with a successful loan spell with the Mariners last season before he landed a two year contract at Bristol Rovers.

  • One player that older Town fans will remember is Ron Foster. Foster joined Town in 1962 after helping Orient win promotion to Division One (now the Premiership). A striker, Foster scored 25 goals in over 100 appearances for Town. After a four year stay at Blundell Park he left for Reading before a spell playing in America.

    • Prediction

    Fishy prediction: Orient are playing well so it will be a tough test for a side struggling on confidence. A 2-2 draw sounds a reasonable guess me thinks.

    2-2

    Past Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Macclesfield1-11-30
    Wycombe2-20-20
    Mansfield1-12-00
    Wigan1-21-00
    Rushden1-00-10
    Bury2-15-11
    Boston2-21-11
    Darlington1-00-10
    		 Reader's POMs

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