Nice to concentrate on the football.
Christophe serves his one match ban while Sawyer may be fit, hopefully at least on the subs bench.
Reserve keeper Ian Joyce may also join young Lee but was still feeling the effects of a hip problem at training yesterday.
Teenager Johnny Herd will get his first start of the season after 11 appearances last term and we all hope those long throws are still part of his game.
Speaking to the official site Johnny said: "Last year when I wasn't involved it really affected me and I didn't want that to happen this time. So as well as still working hard in training to stay fit I have also tried to keep a smile on my face at all times. I have been patient in waiting for an opportunity to play and, touch wood, it will be against Orient.
Of to-night's game he continued: "The performances that I have seen have been good but it's results that matter at the end of the day. We want a victory now and it would be brilliant to get that against Orient. I know there is a bit of a rivalry between the teams, which is maybe more for the fans than the players, but it would still be a great time to get our first league win."
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, M'Voto, Barrett, Herd, Scannell, Grant, McCormack, Moussa, Barnard, Laurent.
There should be quite an atmosphere at the Hall to-night with Orient bringing down at least 1,500.
Let's hope the only shouting we hear, outside the North Bank at least, is for Southend United football club, any arguments with the board can wait.
The draw for the second round of the JPT Trophy, which includes the Shrimpers, will be made on Soccer AM Saturday morning from 10am.
OPPOSITION
Midfielder Kristian O'Leary has come in on loan from Swansea and will play.
Ben Chorley is doubtful to line-up alongside Tam Mkandawire in central defence with a pulled hamstring, if so Luke Ashworth will get another chance.
Goalkeeper Jamie Jones picked up a hip problem against Carlisle. The O's longest-serving player, Glen Morris, stands by.
Old friend Sean Thornton has a knee injury, Jason Demetriou will be away on international duty with Cyprus.
Adam Chambers has come off the bench in Orient's last two games so may start.
The much travelled Scott McGleish, 144 appearances for the Farmers, should join Ryan Jarvis up front.
11 | Oldham Athletic | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | -1 | ||||
12 | Yeovil Town | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 0 | ||||
13 | Leyton Orient | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 5 | -1 | ||||
14 | Stockport County | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 5 | -1 | ||||
15 | Exeter City | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | -1 | ||||
16 | Carlisle United | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | -2 | ||||
17 | Walsall | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | -2 | ||||
18 | Gillingham | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 4 | +1 | ||||
19 | Southend United | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | -1 | ||||
20 | Wycombe Wanderers | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 4 | -4 |
Orient have picked up four of their five points away while continuing their poor home form from last season. So this could be a misleading report to post but it certainly shows that McGleish remains a man to watch.
Leyton Orient 2 Carlisle United 2 (report from the Epping Forest Guardian)
Orient were so close to a first home win of the campaign against Carlisle, but were denied by a stoppage-time equaliser. Carlisle captain Paul Thirwell levelled to make it 2-2 in the 92nd minute.
Earlier, Scott McGleish had brought the O's to the cusp of victory with two second half goals to rule out Matt Robson's first half opener.
Luke Ashworth started in palce of Ben Chorley. Sean Thornton was missing with a knee problem. Glenn Morris got his first start of the season with Jamie Jones ruled out with a hip injury.
A thin crowd at Brisbane Road had little to cheer about during the first half. Orient struggled to turn possession into penetration, and Carlisle always looked the most likely to break the deadlock.
On 10 minutes, after a quiet start to the game, Carlisle Utd fired off the first shot of the game when Joe Anyinsah shot at Morris after cutting into the box having beating Ashworth for pace.
Orient looked to Andros Townsend for attacking threat, firing long balls towards him out on the left wing.
On 13 minutes, Anyisah headed wide from point-blank range at the near post after Ashworth's clearing header had returned the ball right back to where a previous cross had just come from.
The quiet Orient crowd was first roused on 17 minutes when Scott McGleish, who started up front with RYan Jarvis, made to meet with an overhead kick JJ Melligan's cross from the right. The effort was amibitious but no repeat of his strike against Newcastle, last month.
On 32 minutes, Smith struck a loose ball over the bar after a rare period of sustained Orient pressure in the final third.
Carlisle went ahead on 41 minutes with a swift break from inside their own half. Matt Robson finished off Tom Taiwo's through ball with a low shot past Morris into the far corner.
The goal came straight from Orient's best phase of play. Townsend had left his marker on the floor, then Jarvis had persisted at the edge of the box to spray the ball to Melligan on the wing. His cross was met by McGleish who nodded just over the bar.
The second period saw a role revesal. Carlisle never got going and Orient went firmly onto the front foot. Orient's reponse in the second half was instant.
A minute in, McGleish levelled with a re-taken penalty, after Peter Murphy was ajudged to have gone in with a high boot on Jarvis while the pair battled over Jason Demetriou's cross.
Chambers replaced Townsend on 53 minutes.
Five minutes later, Morris was at full stretch to palm away Anyinsah's header. He saved at point-blank range soon afterwards.
The game simmered and boiled over. Luke Ashworth got booked on 64 minutes for unsporting behaviour. Almost straight afterwards, Paul Thirwell was booked when he went straight through Melligan.
Boss Geraint Williams replaced Jarvis with Adrian Patulea on 68 minutes to add bite up front. He was to be rewarded for it.
Scott McGleish rifled a 20 yard effort just past the post after Chambers' had battle to distribute possession in Carlise's final third.
The final ten minutes provided as much excitement as the entire match beforehand.
McGleish fired Orient ahead on 84 minutes thanks to a delicious piece of link up play with Patulea. The Romanian turned his marker and laid the ball in front of McGleish 12 yards out. The veteran kept cool to lift a chip over Lenny Pidgeley.
He almost had a hat-trick two minutes later but Pidgeley blocked his shot.
Morris made himself a hero on 91 minutes with a Gordon Banks 1970-esque one-handed save from Gary Madine's header.
But Orient's home curse struck via the boot of Thirwell. In extra time he bent a shot into the far corner.
Orient so deserved a first home win of the season, but for now the wait continues.
Attendance: 3,546
See the goals from that game here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8220754.stm
PREVIOUSLY
Read about last season's 3-0 win, after waiting 5 long years, here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=EDY3&id=461370
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REF
The man in the middle is the ever popular Trevor Kettle from, yes, Berkshire.
He even has his own page in facebook, 'Trevor Kettle is not fit to referee' whch has over 1,500 comments, beats our 'protest' page!
If you want to read some of the comments which we cannot possibily publish on a family site, go here: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27603969486
To read an interview with the match official, go here: www.refworld.com/referee/146/1/trevor-kettle
Saturday, September 5th: (all kick-offs 15.00 unless stated): Brighton v Wycombe, Bristol Rovers v Millwall, Carlisle v Tranmere, Charlton v Brentford, 12:15, Gillingham v Exeter, Leeds United v Stockport, MK Dons v Huddersfield, Norwich v Walsall, Southampton v Colchester, Yeovil v Swindon.
Friday, September 11th 2009: Southend v Leeds United, 19:45
BET
To Win
Southend 6/5, Draw 12/5, Leyton Orient 5/2.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-one.
HISTORY
Leyton Orient was originally formed by members of the Glyn Cricket Club in 1881, many of whom were former students of Homerton College. The team has had several name changes since, first as Eagle Cricket Club in 1886 then as Orient Football Club in 1888.
The O's are the second oldest Football League club in London behind Fulham. They played in the 2nd Division of the Southern League in 1904, joined the Football League in 1905 and are the 24th oldest club currently playing in the Football League.
History books written on the Club by its Historian Neilson N Kaufman suggest that the choice of the name Orient came about at the behest of a player (Jack R Dearing) who was an employee of the Orient Shipping Company (later to be taken over by P&O).
The club's name was changed again to Clapton Orient in 1898 to represent the area of London in which they played. However, some historians think the name Orient was simply chosen due to its oddity and has no connections to them being an East-End club.
The name Leyton Orient was adopted following the conclusion of the Second World War. The club had moved to Leyton in 1937.
A further rename back to simply Orient took place in 1966 after the Borough
of Leyton was absorbed into the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
That renaming followed a financial crisis (one of several to hit the club, and by no means the first or last) and restructuring of the company behind the club; this is remembered for a "pass the bucket" collection that took place at a special meeting of supporters in the East Stand, when complete closure was claimed to be a definite possibility.
The club finally reverted to "Leyton Orient" in 1987, shortly after Tony Wood took over as chairman and at a time when a supporters campaign was taking place in the Leyton Orientear fanzine to reinstate the Leyton part of the club's name.
Orient parted company with manager and ex-Blue Martin Ling, and his assistant Dean Smith, early in 2009. Youth Team Manager Kevin Nugent was named caretaker manager overseeing three games.
On 5 February 2009 ex-head Farmer Geraint Williams was announced as manager until the end of the season. He enjoyed a very positive start, winning seven of his first nine matches and moving Orient up to 15th.
After Williams' positive influence on the team they secured their League One status on the 13th April with a 1-0 win over Swindon Town at the County Ground.
For the O's full history from Wikipedia go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyton_Orient_F.C.