After a busy week in the National League, Orient picked up four points with a win away to Wrexham and a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Aldershot.
Justin Edinburgh’s side will look to get back to winning ways, having been held by the Shots on Tuesday night. Despite dropping points, the O’s still sit top of the National League.
Next up for Edinburgh’s men is a visit from northerners, Gateshead. The two sides have already clashed this season, both taking a point away from the International Stadium.
Midfielder Charlie Lee remains on the side-line after picking up a minor Medical Collateral Ligament (MCL) injury against AFC Fylde.
Swift Progression
Steve Watson’s Gateshead side did not play this Tuesday after their fixture with Solihull Moors was postponed due to Solihull’s FA Cup commitments. At the weekend, an away trip to Barnet proved successful with the Heed emerging 2-1 winners.
Luke Armstrong bagged the winner 14 minutes from time to see them move up to seventh place. Gateshead have dramatically improved since the last campaign where they finished 17th in the National League.
Watson, who has no injury worries heading into the match, expects a full squad to make the trip to London.
Defence vs Attack
Josh Coulson has been solid at the back all season for the O’s. The 29-year-old centre-back has been a key member of Justin Edinburgh’s table topping stars.
The former Cambridge United man has started every single league fixture this season, creating a formidable partnership with Marvin Ekpiteta at the back. With two clean sheets in a row, Coulson will be looking to make it a hat-trick with another this time out.
Luke Armstrong has scored seven league goals for The Heed. The Middlesbrough loanee found the net five times in the opening six games of the season, including a goal against Orient, but a hamstring injury forced him out for six weeks.
Luke is the son of former Premier League professional, Alun Armstrong, who now manages Blyth Spartans.
Form Book
| Leyton Orient 0-0 Aldershot | Gateshead P-P Solihull Moors |
| Wrexham 0-2 Leyton Orient | Barnet 1-2 Gateshead |
| Leyton Orient 3-1 Bromley | Gateshead 0-0 Sutton |
| Fylde 1-3 Leyton Orient | Rochdale 2-1 Gateshead (FA Cup) |
| Eastleigh 1-1 Leyton Orient | Wrexham 3-1 Gateshead |
| Leyton Orient 4-0 Havant & W | AFC Fylde 1-0 Gateshead |
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Leyton Orient: 1st | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 29 | 47 |
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Gateshead: 7th | 21 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 36 |
Stat Attack
- Orient went unbeaten in August, October and November and play their first tie of December this weekend.
- The O’s are on an eight game unbeaten run with five wins and three draws.
Shared Spoils
In the reverse fixture on 25th August, the teams played out a 1-1 draw at the International Stadium as the visitors finished the match with 10-men.
Luke Armstrong put the hosts ahead 13 minutes from time, however Orient striker James Alabi was shown a straight red card after 81 minutes for a rash challenge on Gateshead’s Robbie Tinkler.
When all seemed lost, Marvin Ekpiteta popped up to salvage a point for the O’s in the last minute of normal time.
When and Where?
The match will take place this Saturday 1st December at the Breyer Group Stadium, home of Leyton Orient, with kick-off at 15:00.
If you would like to support the league leaders, grab yourself a ticket and head to the stadium tomorrow afternoon.
The ground is a 10 minute walk from Leyton Station which is Eastbound on the Central Line from Stratford Station. The Breyer Group Stadium is sign posted as soon as you exit the station.
