Leyton Orient vs. Southend United – Preview

And results in midweek also handed the Shrimpers a huge favour. Cambridge and Carlisle United slugged out a 2-2 draw at the Abbey Stadium, leaving the U’s just three points above Southend and the Cumbrians nine points adrift of the Seasiders having played a game more. Boston United’s 1-1 draw with Swansea wasted their match in hand – they are a single point clear of Blues – whilst on Tuesday Darlington’s 2-1 home defeat against Northampton Town meant that they had played two games more than Southend, and still trail them by a point.

All of that means that should Southend defeat Orient tomorrow, they could conceivably move up to 17^th with other results going their way. A win would also put Tilson and Paul Brush’s team, the former O’s manager returning to Brisbane Road for the first time since departing the club after leaving them in the drop zone, within touching distance – incredibly – of the top half of the table, should they win their games in hand against Bury on Tuesday and then versus Hull when that clash is rearranged.

The pressure on Blues is, therefore, no different to what is had been in the LDV, when they have managed to go through the competition undefeated, despite four matches against sides in Division Two. Tilson will stress to his team, whatever side he puts out, that they simply must produce the same level of determination and passion as was evident on Tuesday night, and then they will surely haul themselves clear of the relegation zone with ease.

With matches against Bury, Boston and Macclesfield all coming up after this one, all sides just ahead of or marginally below Blues, this encounter will set the side up nicely for those three games, although big striker Drewe Broughton will miss all three. The Hitchin-born front man is suspended for the trio of fixtures after his sending off in the first leg of the LDV shoot-out with Colchester at Layer Road. However, after scoring the winner in midweek, he is almost certain to start this game.

Broughton’s partner is more difficult to pinpoint, although on-loan forward Lawrie Dudfield, having scored two goals in two games in Division Three, appears to be the favourite. Tesfaye Bramble should act as a substitute having failed to show the same level of understanding as the Northampton Town man when playing with Broughton on Tuesday night, whilst former Orient man Leon Constantine isa set to continue on the right flank. James Corbett was ineefectual in the reserves against Cambridge on Wednesday afternoon, but he is nonetheless in contention, having saved his best for the big matches.

As already mentioned, Constantine should start this fixture, against one of his former clubs on the right, having notched his fourteenth and fifteenth of the season from the penalty spot against Kidderminster seven days ago. On the left, Mark Gower should retain his place despite clearly struggling with fitness in the last match against the U’s, with Steven Clark having collected an injury at the Abbey Stadium.

In the centre of the park, inspirational skipper Kevin Maher lines up against the side that have attempted to obtain his services on at least two, if not three, occasions. Maher’s partner in the middle could be one of three – Lewis Hunt played there again on Tuesday for the second time against the U’s, but looked a little tired returning from injury, Mark Bentley is available again after being cup-tied in midweek whilst Carl Pettefer appeared as a substitute on Tuesday evening having made his first start in Shrimpers colours three days previously.

At the back, there are no real selection dilemnas for the management duo to contend with. The back four of Duncan Jupp (right-back), Jamie Stuart (left-back), Leon Cort and Mark Warren (centre-backs) were truly immense against Colchester, and they have conceded just four goals in the last seven games. Che Wilson, Stuart Williams, Dave McSweeney and Neil Jenkins were all reasonably impressive in ther reserves, but not enough to be handed a place.

In goal, despite his slight mistake on Tuesday in allowing Kemal Izzet as soft a goal as Simon Brown did Tesfaye Bramble a week beforehand, Darryl Flahavan appears certain to retain his place, although he was decidedly nervous against the U’s and he has a poor record against Orient. Carl Emberson has picked up a mysterious injury, but his replacement, Ryan Robinson, was solid in goal for the second-string.

Leyton Orient will be without Rochford-bron left-back Matty Lockwood, who has a toe injury that will stop him facing the Shrimpers. Lockwood is joined on the sidelines by Ciaran Toner, who has sustained a rib injury from the encounter with Oxford United a fortnight ago. Dave McGhee is still not ready for first-team action, playing 55 minutes of the reserve team fixture against Northampton Town in midweek. Defender Kevin Stephens has been released by the club.

However, three other players that took part in the game against the Cobblers are available: Matthew Joseph, Greg Heald and Jabo Ibehre all completed the ninety minutes and could make the squad at the Matchroom Stadium. Charlton Athletic loanee Lloyd Sam is also in line for a starting berth having extended his contract with the O’s until mid-April.

Orient’s form since the turn of the year has been as impressive as that of the Shrimpers with just two defeats and four wins in ther six matches thus far in 2004. They come into the game having beaten early season pace-setters Oxford United 1-0 at Brisbane Road two weeks ago. The East London side lie 10^th in the table, having beaten Southend 2-1 at Roots Hall earlier in the season.

Let’s take as many as we can to Leyton, and show the lads what we feel after they secured the club’s first ever national final! And a special reception for Shrimpers Trust secretary and TLG contributor Terry Jeffreys, who, along with three others, will be walking to Orient tomorrow to raise money for the SUSCT Fighting Fund. If you haven’t sponsored him yet – do it! Good luck Terry!

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