Leyton Orient at home 19.10.24

[GrangeParkCobbler]

Back to business after the international break as 20th placed Northampton host 19th placed Leyton Orient. Both teams have two wins and two draws so far this season for 8 points although The Cobblers have played a game less.
Both teams have been out of action for 11 days so should be well rested. Orient picked up League Cup wins over Newport and at Millwall before falling to another London side Brentford in the third round. Both of their league wins have also come on their travels, a 1-0 win at Reading was eclipsed by an impressive 4-1 win at Stockport a month ago, that being The O's last win in normal time (they did pick up a penalty shootout win over Colchester in the Trophy).
Like us Orient have spent one whole season in the top flight of English football, theirs came in 1962/63 when they averaged crowds of over 16,000. Their fall from grace wasn't as steep as ours though and they did spend a good number of years in the 70's and 80's in the second tier before the fourth tier beckoned in 1986, by now crowds were down to around 2,600.
They actually dropped out of the league altogether in more recent times, spending two years in the National League in 2017-2019 before promotion back, following this up with the League 2 title in 2022/23, we finished third that same year and went up alongside them. Last season brought about an 11th placed finish for the East London outfit.

Richie Wellens has been in charge since March 2022 and has a positive overall record, 57 wins to 44 defeats since taking over from Kenny Jackett. Wellens has previous managerial experience with Oldham, Swindon, Salford and Doncaster.

Charlie Kelman is in his second loan spell from QPR to Orient, he's leading scorer with three league goals this campaign, Ethan Galbraith also has three including a brace in that win at Stockport. Still looking for his first goal is Jamie Donley, a 19 year old forward loanee from Tottenham.

86 meetings between the clubs over the years have produced 33 Cobblers wins against 29 for the O's. On their last visit to Sixfields last November a last minute equaliser gave them a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw, a game which saw Kieron Bowie sent off for The Town. The return game was a thriller with Orient winning by the odd goal in seven, again a last minute winner gave them more than they went into the 90th minute with.
Orients last win at Sixfields came in 2019 when a James Brophy goal was the difference between the two teams.
It took 20 attempts before Orient won a league game at Northampton, that came in 1956. In 41 league trips to Northampton the O's have only notched 8 wins, none of them by more than a single goal. They did however win 3-0 on the Sixfields turf in a Trophy match back in 2012.

Oliver Mackey is the ref appointed to oversee the game. The Leicestershire based whistler was only promoted to League level this season, in fact this will be only the second time he has taken charge of an EFL game and first at League 1 level. He was the fourth official in our win at Huddersfield a few weeks back though. He's booked 26 and sent off one in his six games across League 2, National League and EFL Trophy.

[Risdene]

At this stage of the season not a 'massive' game but obviously a very 'important' game for the mini league of 6 we are competing in.

[Manwork04]

At this stage of the season not a 'massive' game but obviously a very 'important' game for the mini league of 6 we are competing in.

Nonsense, this is a must win game make no mistake.
I have a very bad feeling about it too.

[Manwork04]

Ticket sales going well for this 7000+.

[SC Cobbler]

Is Odimayo fit?

The defence will probably pick itself - Guinness Guthrie Baldwin Odimayo, Sowerby Chouchane McGeehan in the middle, with Fosu Eaves Roberts up top?

[Observing]

I predict a riot.

[Manwork04]

Is Odimayo fit?

The defence will probably pick itself - Guinness Guthrie Baldwin Odimayo, Sowerby Chouchane McGeehan in the middle, with Fosu Eaves Roberts up top?

That’s a píss weak midfield.

[Risdene]

Hondermarck might be added to the midfield to stiffen it up and sacrifice Fosu to an impact role.

[Manwork04]

Hondermarck might be added to the midfield to stiffen it up and sacrifice Fosu to an impact role.

That would be my preferred midfield, thought Hondermarck did ok against Notts.

[west stand oap]

Sitting on the same number of points as ourselves but having played a game more Orient have had a relatively tough set of fixtures so far and have not won any of their 5 home games, going down to single goal defeats against Bolton, Birmingham and Exeter and drawing with Peterborough and Wycombe. they lost all of their first 4 games before winning at Reading and Stockport. Since then they have picked up 2 points from 4 games. Their worst result of the season was losing 0-3 at Shrewsbury who are also on 8 points but have played 12 games. I watched Shrewsbury lose 0-2 at home to Exeter last night and also their game at Crawley where they were losing until Crawley had a player sent off and it is plain to see why they are struggling and the same could be said for Crawley who were most peoples favourites for relegation. With Burton (4 points) and Cambridge (1 point) so far having not won a game at this early point of the season these 4 teams all look like relegation candidates.

We have to be aiming for maximum points from our next 3 home games against Orient, Crawley and Cambridge but so far 1 win and 4 points from our 5 home games is very poor. JB does not have much wriggle room with the defence and only 5 fit players and it will be interesting how he handles Guinness-Walker who has played little football. JB usually likes to gradually build players minutes but with 2 games a week for most of the next few weeks it would seem that he will have to play him more than he would like.

A quote from the Orient board which Manny will like "Just hope their little striker Hoskins doesn't play. He always scores against us it seems", he is feared throughout the land.

[Observing]

Question on parking, for those of us that park at TGI Fridays, I know last game they said cameras were coming and you’d need to register in the restaurant for parking. Obviously TGIs is now dead, assume we’ll be okay to park there again?

[Tabasco Kid]

Question on parking, for those of us that park at TGI Fridays, I know last game they said cameras were coming and you’d need to register in the restaurant for parking. Obviously TGIs is now dead, assume we’ll be okay to park there again?

Never assume that private land is safe to park on. Especially if someone close by has been given a hotline to ring, and may be on a commision of the penalty fine.

[MCHammer]

That’s a píss weak midfield.

Have we got anyone else though that would make a difference in terms of strength?  I know you mentioned Hondermarck but I don't even think he's that type of player either.

[Mysterious Curle]

A huge game.

Ultimately, when playing at home you need to beat the sides in and around the relegation zone if you want to stay up.

[Tabasco Kid]

Have we got anyone else though that would make a difference in terms of strength?  I know you mentioned Hondermarck but I don't even think he's that type of player either.

No we havent. And one thing for sure, is that Dibley-Dias wont be on the team sheet.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Northampton Town FC (First Team) v Leyton Orient FC (First Team)
Football League 1   
Referee: Mackey, Oliver
Assistant Referee: Amphlett, Marvyn
Assistant Referee: Head, Ryan
Fourth Official: O'Connor, Jamie

[Letchworthcobbler93]

Come on, cobblers!

[Manwork04]

Have we got anyone else though that would make a difference in terms of strength?  I know you mentioned Hondermarck but I don't even think he's that type of player either.

He’s better than Mcgeehan, who I think is massively overrated, we don’t have enough steel in midfield.

[WadeyCobbler]

He’s better than Mcgeehan, who I think is massively overrated, we don’t have enough steel in midfield.

McGeehan is a fine player and a real threat if played in the advanced role. No one better at the club in that position IMO. He’s not a defensive or steely type midfielder. That’s for Sowerby and maybe Hondermarck.

[west stand oap]

At the moment we appear to have sold about 5800 and sections of the east stand (500)  which can be given to the away team have now been opened up, so it seems that Orient have not sold out the south.