The Orient Hour’s Chris Hood looks ahead to the match…
Orient play host to Paul Doswell’s Sutton United tomorrow (3pm kick off) as they look to match the club’s longest ever unbeaten run, set in 2010/11.
The O’s are now 13 games without a loss this season, already the longest unbeaten start in Orient history, after a comprehensive 5-1 victory against Braintree Town at Cressing Road on Tuesday night. That made it three wins on the bounce with 11 goals scored and only two conceded.
It all means that Orient remain top of the pile in the National League, two points clear of nearest challengers Salford, 10 months after Justin Edinburgh’s appointment as Orient boss on November 29 2017. In fact, this very fixture was Justin’s first home game in charge, as Orient snapped their infamous winless run.
Brisbane Road has not held the greatest of home comforts for Orient over the past few seasons, but that now seems to be changing, with Orient boasting a record of four wins and two draws at The Breyer Group Stadium this season, winning all of the last four – the last three seeing Orient win 3-0, 3-0 and 3-1.
The O’s have been strong at both ends of the pitch, conceding nine in their 13 games so far (the third best record in the division behind Wrexham and Fylde), and are the top scorers with 28, at an average of a goal every 42 minutes. Macauley Bonne has again been prolific with nine goals so far, making him the top scorer in the National League, and the first Orient player since Carl Griffiths to score two league hat tricks.
As for opponents Sutton, the visitors sit 7th, six points behind the O’s. Paul Doswell’s side finished 3rd last season, before losing to Boreham Wood at the playoff semi-final stage, and are looking strong again this year, with three wins and a draw in the last five in the league. The record would be even better had The Ambers been able to put away Dover on Tuesday night – Sutton led 2-0 after 17 minutes before being pegged back to 2-2 at Gander Green Lane. Strong on the road, Sutton have won three, drawn two and lost one in the league and have won their last three away matches in all competitions.
Head-2-Head
Orient travelled to Gander Green Lane for the curtain raiser to last season’s National League campaign, Collins and Beckwith scoring the goals that gave Sutton a 2-0 victory live on TV. However, Orient got revenge in the reverse, winning 4-1 at the beginning of December – Bonne scoring a double with one each for Harrold and Dayton. This game was notable as being Justin Edinburgh’s first in charge of Orient at Brisbane Road and the one that ended Orient’s run of 15 National League matches without victory.
Team News
With James Brophy returning to the bench last weekend, and Sam Ling now available, Justin Edinburgh pretty much has a full squad available. George Elokobi is the only absentee with a hamstring injury, but he should be available soon.
Last Time Out
Braintree 1-5 Orient, National League, Tuesday 25th September
ORIENT: Brill, Judd, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Widdowson, Dayton (Alabi 76), Clay (Gorman 65), Lee (Brophy 70), McAnuff, Bonne, Koroma
SUBS (not used): Sargeant, Happe
Sutton United 2-2 Dover Athletic, National League, Tuesday 25th September
SUTTON: Butler, Bennett, Thomas, Bailey, Clough, Collins (Beckwith 34), Bolarinwa (Taylor 60), Eastmond, Wright, Ayunga, Brown (Drinan 60)
SUBS (not used): Lafayette, Beautyman
Predicted Orient Team
With Justin Edinburgh selecting the same starting XI for the last nine matches, I don’t expect any changes here.
James Brophy made the bench last weekend, in place of Matt Harrold, which could potentially be the only change, but I expect the same 16 as on Tuesday night.
SUBS: Sargeant, Happe, Gorman, Brophy, Alabi
Around the League (All 3pm)
AFC Fylde vs Braintree Town
Boreham Wood vs Harrogate Town
Bromley vs FC Halifax Town
Dagenham & Redbridge vs Ebbsfleet United
Dover Athletic vs Barrow
Gateshead vs Eastleigh
Hartlepool United vs Aldershot Town
Havant & Waterlooville vs Solihull Moors
Maidenhead United vs Salford City
Maidstone United vs Chesterfield
Wrexham vs Barnet