Steve Davis travels with his Leyton Orient side to North Wales this Saturday where they will face promotion chasers Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground.
The O’s will make the 207-mile trip to the Red Dragons’ without a win in their previous nine league matches, most recently falling to a 2-0 defeat at home to Gateshead on Tuesday night.
Orient currently sit in 19th place in the National League with 18 points after five wins, three draws and nine losses. This leaves them four points off the relegation zone and nine points off the last play-off place.
Davis has tried to find a solution to his side’s problems in recent weeks, reverting to a three at the back system with wing backs. During the FA Cup qualifying matches against Dagenham & Redbridge they kept two clean sheets with this formation, but since then have conceded three and scored none.
For Wrexham, the scene looks very different with the Welsh side sitting in third place with 29 points. In what is a tight top-half of the table, Wrexham sit just three points off the top having won eight, drawn five and lost four this season.
Wrexham come into the match on the back of a surprise 2-0 defeat at AFC Fylde in midweek, with goals in each half from Jonny Smith and Jack Muldoon.
Despite this defeat, Dean Keates’ men boast the best defensive record in the league having conceded just 10 goals in 17 matches. However, they face an Orient side who have scored in each of their last three away matches.
Ones to Watch
Orient striker Macauley Bonne has proven his worth since arriving from Colchester United in the summer, with his unquestionable work ethic and clinical eye for goal.
The 22 year-old has bagged seven league goals for the O’s this season, including a hat-trick against Guiseley at Brisbane Road in September.
At 180cm tall, Bonne can cause defences problems both in the air and with the ball at his feet. His intelligent runs and striker’s instinct will be needed if Orient are to bring three points back to E10.
For Wrexham, striker Ntumba Massanka has netted seven goals in 15 appearances for the Reds. Despite being on the bench recently, his brace against Bromley in September is evidence of the threat he poses given the opportunity.
The 20 year-old striker, standing at 191cm tall, joined the club on loan in January and over the summer the Welsh side managed to retain his services on a further six-month loan deal.
Previous 6 Results
| Wrexham | Leyton Orient |
| AFC Fylde 2-0 Wrexham | Orient 0-2 Gateshead |
| Dagenham and Redbridge 0-1 Wrexham | Orient 0-1 Macclesfield Town |
| AFC Fylde 1-0 Wrexham (FA Cup) | Orient 1-0 Dagenham and Redbridge (FA Cup) |
| Wrexham 2-1 Eastleigh | Dagenham and Redbridge 0-0 Orient (FA Cup) |
| Halifax 0-0 Wrexham | Barrow 2-2 Orient |
| Wrexham 1-1 Sutton United | Tranmere 2-1 Orient |
Stats and Facts:
Orient:
Orient have conceded 29 goals this season and only Solihull Moors, who are bottom of the table, have conceded more (32).
Orient have taken eight points from a possible 24 on the road this season, having won two, drawn two and lost four.
However, the O’s have the joint second best ‘goals for’ tally (21) in the bottom half of the table.
Wrexham:
Wrexham have lost just once at home this season, 1-0 to Macclesfield Town on the opening day of the season in August.
They have conceded just four goals at home this season, and kept four consecutive cleans sheets at home from 15th August until 16th September.
However, they have won just once in their last four league matches at the Racecourse Ground.
Previous Meeting:
You need to go back to 21st January 2006 to find the last time these two sides crossed paths. It was a League Two fixture, with Orient running out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Gary Alexander and a Matt Lockwood penalty.
Can’t make it to the game:
Don’t worry if you are not going to the Racecourse Ground this weekend. If you are on social media you can follow the action as it happens on both clubs’ Twitter pages (@leytonorientfc and @Wrexham_AFC.)
