Leyton Orient
nPower League 1
Tuesday 21st August 2012
The Matchroom Stadium, Leyton, London, E10 5NF
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Weather Forecast: Cloudy, 18°c
Referee: S Rushton (Staffordshire)
Stevenage face their first away game of the season this Tuesday evening when they make the trip to the Matchroom Stadium to play Leyton Orient.
Last time we met…
Stevenage's 13-game unbeaten run came to an end back in January as Leyton Orient won a fiery encounter at The Lamex Stadium. Lee Cook scored the only goal after 15 minutes when he cut in from the right and curled a shot into the top corner from 20 yards out. Orient went down to 10 men when defender Ben Chorley was sent off in first-half injury-time for a clash with Chris Beardsley but Boro then had Chuks Aneke dismissed for a high challenge on Terrell Forbes.
Boro: Day; Henry (Cowan), Ashton, Roberts, Laird; Wilson, Bostwick, Byrom, Shroot (Freeman); Beardsley, Harrison (Aneke)
Subs not used: Julian, Edwards
Team News
Leyton Orient’s only doubt will be defender Scott Cuthbert who went off injured against Tranmere on Saturday. Ben Chorley is set to replace him.
Stevenage could hand a start to Robin Shroot after the goal-scoring midfielder equalised against Carlisle after coming on as a sub. Elsewhere there could also be starts for Lucas Akins and Jon Ashton should Gary Smith opt for changes after Saturday’s draw.
The Leyton Orient Scout Report
Recent Form
Leyton Orient have had a mixed start to the season. A week ago they defeated last year’s League 1 champions Charlton 4-3 on penalties after their Capital One Cup tie at The Valley finished 1-1, setting up a second round tie at Everton. However in their opening league game on Saturday they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at Tranmere, with a late Michael Symes penalty proving a mere consolation after a poor performance.
Pre-season for the O’s proved very unpredictable too. Of seven games they won three – 5-3 at Sutton, 2-0 versus a Wolves XI and 2-1 against a QPR XI – whilst losing four – 1-0 at Ebbsfleet, 1-0 at Dartford, 1-0 at Luton and 2-1 at Maidstone.
Possible Orient line-up for Tuesday (4-4-2 formation)
Jamie Jones; Gary Sawyer, Ben Chorley, Nathan Clarke, Mathieu Baudry; Dean Cox, Lloyd James, Anthony Griffith, Jimmy Smith; Kevin Lisbie, David Mooney
Subs from: Ryan Brunt, Michael Symes, Ryan Allsop, Leon McSweeney, Marc Laird, Moses Odubajo, Scott Cuthbert
Key Man...
Kevin Lisbie topped the goal scoring charts at Orient last season, scoring 12 times in 37 games. The 33 year old former Charlton, Ipswich and Colchester player adds some real experience to the squad and has also shown form at this level before, having scored 13 times for Colchester in the 2009/10 campaign.
Leyton Orient Trivia:
• This will be Leyton Orient’s first home game since they beat Rochdale 2-1 on the final day of last season, having played all seven pre-season friendlies this summer away from the Matchroom Stadium.
• Midfielder Anthony Griffith will be hoping to avoid further embarrassment when playing any back passes to his ‘keeper after scoring a spectacular 40 yard own goal in Boro’s favour whilst playing for Port Vale in 2011.
• Both British solo cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and composer brother Andrew Lloyd Webber are said to be fans of Orient as were, reportedly, the Kray twins.
• A former O’s player holds the record for scoring the fastest goal in a playoff final. Chris Tate scored against Blackpool in May 2001 in 27 seconds. The former Scarborough striker subsequently spent a loan spell at Stevenage, scoring twice in six appearances.
Stat Attack:
• The two teams have met just three times prior to this game, with one win each and a draw. Stevenage famously won 2-1 in the FA Cup way back in 1997/98, there was a goalless draw at the Matchroom Stadium last November and Orient won 1-0 at The Lamex in the return fixture.
• Should Robin Shroot start this game he’ll be making his 15th start for Boro and his 36th overall.
• Should Darius Charles be selected in the starting XI for this game it’ll be his 55th start for the club and his 70th overall.
• Darius Charles’ next goal will be his 10th goal for Boro.
PREVIEW BY DAVE TOYN