As frustrating as Boxing Day was, not totally surprising for those who have had to sit through our away performances lately, seven succesive defeats if you throw in the JPT at stadium:mk and the Cup defeat in Kent, and one Laurent goal to show at Carlisle.
We do have plenty of possession, as Tilly keeps reminding us, but there's usually not a decent shot at the end of it all.
Laurent showed us he'll just sulk if not in his favourite right wing position, and though I agree with Tilly's choice of Christophe to beef up the midfield against Boothroyd's bully boys, yes they are getting the results for now but I would hate to watch that every week, it was Cambridge United circa thirty years ago, horrible, it might be best to give Walker yet another chance to show he wasn't a complete waste of dosh, and run at a more lightweight Orient defence.
This a huge game for both sides but the Shrimpers have to get something from it, you can draw lads, another one goal defeat with 80% of the ball would be too much to bare, as a loss could see them just a couple of points outside the bottom four.
Not the best of grounds to expect some luck yet if the attitude is right I'm looking to the team to bounce back from Saturday and grab a very important win.
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, Morrison, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, Grant, McCormack, Moussa, Walker, Barnard.
Subs: Bentley, Sankofa, Herd, Christophe, O'Keefe, Scannell, Freedman.
OPPOSITION
If both those creative outlets are closed Orient will be hoping another forward, Ryan Jarvis, can rejoin the squad after missing Saturday.
Williams continued: "Jarv's been ill all week with flu-like symptoms. He didn't look well on Saturday, so with another important game in 48 hours we wanted to give him every chance of being 100% for that one."
Spurs teenage winger Andros Townsend plays the final game of his loan spell for the East London side.
| 16 | Southend United | 23 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 26 | 31 | 26 | -5 | ||||
| 17 | Gillingham | 23 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 26 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 28 | 33 | 25 | -5 | ||||
| 18 | Oldham Athletic | 22 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 27 | 25 | -8 | ||||
| 19 | Exeter City | 23 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 24 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 34 | 25 | -9 | ||||
| 20 | Leyton Orient | 23 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 39 | 24 | -12 | ||||
| 21 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 23 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 41 | 21 | -16 | ||||
Last Time Out: Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Leyton Orient 0
An away point for the O's at the seaside and the full match report from their official site here: www.leytonorient.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10439~47817,00.html
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The ground has seen a lot of re-development in recent years, with the construction of three new stands. Finance for this has chiefly come from the proceeds of selling part of the Brisbane Road site to a property developer. In this ground breaking development, the corners of the ground have been filled with blocks of residential apartments, which certainly gives the stadium a unique look.
Opposite is the new West Stand which was opened for the 2005/06 season. This all seated stand which has a capacity of 2,872, has an unusual look about it, as above the seating area is a tall vertical structure that houses the Club offices. In fact to be honest it looks more like an office block that has some seats installed on a large viewing gallery, rather than a football stand. It also has some corporate hospitality areas, which look a little precarious, as the outside seating area of these overhang the lower tier.
If you carry on with the office theme, then you can almost imagine these being used by the window cleaners to clean the office windows. At the very top of the stand is a fair sized viewing gallery for television cameras and press and the roof of the stand contains a lot of perspex panels to allow more light to reach the pitch.
At the North End is the ground is the most recent addition to the stadium. The North Stand was opened at the beginning of the 2007/08 season and replaced a former open terrace. This simple looking covered all seated stand, has space for 1,351 spectators and looks similar to the Tommy Johnston Stand. The ground also has a set of four modern looking floodlight pylons.
Currently away supporters are housed in one side (towards the South End) of the Main Stand, where there are a couple of supporting pillars that may impede your view. Around 1,000 fans can be accommodated in this area.
WEATHER
Sunny Intervals and 5c's.
The man in the middle is Gavin Ward from Surrey.
He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/170/1/gavin-ward
FIXTURES
Monday, December 28th, 2009; (all kick-offs 15.00 unless stated): Brentford v Charlton, Colchester v Southampton, Exeter v Gillingham, Hartlepool v Oldham, Huddersfield v MK Dons, Leyton Orient v Southend, Millwall v Bristol Rovers, Stockport v Leeds, (12:00), Swindon v Yeovil, Tranmere v Carlisle, Walsall v Norwich, Wycombe v Brighton.
No Southend game on Saturday January 2nd due to Millwall's involvement in the F.A. Cup Third Round.
Next Blues games, Saturday January 9th, WALSALL at Roots Hall, kick-off 15.00.
BET
To Win:
Leyton Orient - 7/2, Draw - 12/5, Southend - 2.
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/leyton_orient_and_another_travelcard_450284/index.shtml
By Car go here:
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking hostelries in Exeter, and we recommend the Birbeck Tavern, go here:
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.
On 5 February 2009 former head farmer Geraint Williams was announced as Manager until the end of the season. He has enjoyed a very positive start, winning seven of his first nine matches and moving Orient up to 15th.
After Geraint 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 a more comprehensive history of Leyton Orient F.C., go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyton_Orient_F.C.)