Carling Cup 1st Round: Welcome back to the O's, we've missed you!
Absense makes the heart grow fonder they say, not sure what the Shrimpers will say about that as we face our East London friends and neighbours Leyton Orient to Roots Hall in the opening round of the Carling Cup after not facing them since a 2-1 win on Boxing Day 2010, followed by our subsequent relegation to the basement division.
S24 wanted West Ham, Colchester United, or Orient at home fromn the draw so we're very happy, and we have nothing to fear after we finally ended a six-year hoodoo in September 2008 beating the Brisbane Road boys 3-0, get in Lee Sawyer, for the first time since Mark Salter's, er, cracker in 2008.
Since that happy autumn evening we have been unbeaten in four, winning three, however Orient had a great campaign last time around, finishing 8th in League One, only one point outside the play-offs.
We would also welcome back former striker Alex Revell but not ex-captain Adam Barrett who has returned to Place after joining the O's on loan towards the end of last season.
A date, time and ticket details all have to be fixed, but our money would be on Tuesday, August 9th with a 19.45 kick-off, full details when confirmed.
Head to Head with Orient:
Fairytale at Roots Hall:
Well worth the wait:
The biggest draw of the round though, yes even bigger than ours, has to be Nottingham Forest versus Notts County!
Last season's relegated Premier League teams Blackpool and West Ham face Sheffield Wednesday (away) and Aldershot Town (home) respectively.
The third Premiership side sent down, holders Birmingham City, have a bye as they are involved in the Europa Cup, the reason unlucky Crawley Town and AFC Wimbledon have to face each other in a preliminary round tie, the winners though having the reward of visiting Crystal Palace.
Leeds United will take on Bradford City in another cracking derby, while Bristol City travelling to Swindon Town will see the western section of the M4 busy on the night.
Carling Cup Preliminary Round
Crawley Town v AFC Wimbledon (to be played on Friday, July 29th.)
Carling Cup First Round draw
Rochdale v Chesterfield
Port Vale v Huddersfield Town
Rotherham United v Leicester City
Hull City v Macclesfield Town
Hartlepool United v Sheffield United
Leeds United v Bradford City
Doncaster Rovers v Tranmere Rovers
Walsall v Middlesbrough
Barnsley v Morecambe
Accrington Stanley v Scunthorpe United
Derby County v Shrewsbury Town
Oldham Athletic v Carlisle United
Bury v Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday v Blackpool
Burnley v Burton Albion
Preston North End v Crewe Alexandra
Nottingham Forest v Notts County
Brighton & Hove Albion v Gillingham
AFC Bournemouth v Dagenham & Redbridge
Ipswich Town v Northampton Town
Cheltenham Town v Milton Keynes Dons
Bristol Rovers v Watford
Plymouth Argyle v Millwall
Oxford United v Cardiff City
West Ham United v Aldershot Town
Southampton v Torquay United
Charlton Athletic v Reading
Portsmouth v Barnet
Stevenage v Peterborough United
Southend United v Leyton Orient
Wycombe Wanderers v Colchester United
Hereford United v Brentford
Exeter City v Yeovil Town
Bristol City v Swindon Town
Crystal Palace v Crawley Town/AFC Wimbledon
Ties will be played during the week commencing 8th August 2011.