Leyton Orient welcome Carlisle United to the Breyer Group Stadium this Saturday, as Carl Fletcher makes his home debut as Head Coach.
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Fletcher’s first game at the helm didn’t exactly go to plan on Tuesday night, as the O’s fell to a 4-0 defeat away at Plymouth Argyle.
However, the game was marred by Argyle’s controversial opener in which the officials missed a blatant handball from Zak Rudden in the build-up to the goal.
Despite their mid-week disappointment, Orient will be seeking to end October on a high after amassing nine points from a possible 12 this month.
Carlisle, on the other hand, have had a disastrous month, losing all four of the league games they’ve played this month, scoring just two goals and conceding nine in the process.
This has led to mounting pressure on their manager Steven Pressley, who was on the receiving end of a significant amount of verbal abuse from his own supporters following Tuesday’s 2-0 home defeat to Northampton.
Ones to Watch
After impressing on debut in the 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the EFL Trophy, 17 year old Jarrad Branthwaite, has started the last two league games for Steven Pressley’s side on the right side of a back three and certainly looks a prospect for the future.
Nathan Thomas is another player to look out for on Saturday. The 25 year old cut short a loan spell at Gillingham earlier in the season, due to a not settling in Kent.
He subsequently joined Carlisle from Premier League Sheffield United, on another short-term deal and has proved to be an important player for the Blues thus far.
Team News
The O’s will continue to be without two of their key forwards in the shape of Conor Wilkinson and Lee Angol this weekend, with the former serving the last of the of a three-game ban, whilst the latter is still believed to be a couple of weeks away from full fitness.
After recovering from a long-term injury, Jamie Turley made the matchday squad for the first time this season against Argyle in mid-week and could be in line to get his first minutes of the campaign this weekend.
Previous Meetings
This will be the first meeting between the two sides since February 2017.
Gavin Massey opened the scoring early on for the O’s on that occasion, though a goal each from Gary Liddle and Jamie Proctor ensured Carlisle came away from E10 with maximum points.
For Orient supporters however, perhaps the most memorable recent meeting between the two sides came in August 2013, when the O’s ran out 5-1 winners at Brunton Park on the opening day of a season which would see them come within touching distance of reaching the Championship.
Coming to the Game?
The match takes place this Saturday 26th October at the Breyer Group Stadium, with kick off scheduled for 3pm. Tickets are still available, and prices range from £7-£20.
