Match Preview | Wanderers v Leyton Orient

Match Preview Leyton Orient

Wanderers can make it three successive league victories to edge closer to the play-off places with three points against top-six rivals Leyton Orient.

Last time out the Whites came from behind for the second league game running to grab a 3-2 win over Shrewsbury Town with goals from Eoin Toal and a John McAtee brace.

The equally in-form visitors are also heading into this one off a come-from-behind away victory of their own against high-flying Wrexham in mid-week.

Richie Wellens' side went behind on the quarter-hour mark but goals from Charlie Kelman and Jamie Donley secured the points for the East London side.

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John McAtee celebrates at Shrewsbury Town

Press Conference

Steven Schumacher: "We've got a tough run of fixtures coming up, starting on Saturday, so we need to make sure that we're fully prepared and ready for it.

"It should be a good game and one I'm looking forward to. I've known Richie for a long time – we did our pro licences together. It will be two teams going at it, playing the right way, trying to win. That should lend itself to be another exciting encounter.

"We know what their strengths are. They've got some really good forward players, they play good football, they have lots of good rotation and movement, so we have to be prepared for that and try and exploit their weaknesses where we can.

"They will be one of the sides where I expect, especially if they keep this momentum going that they're on at the moment, that will be in there, in and around the play-off mix, so it's a huge game, we can't hide away from that.

"We know we need to get a result from it and we want to try and get three points. We’re at home, so we’ll try and take the initiative and not make it easy for them to come here and play, and, when we have the ball, cause them a problem when we can."

Watch Schumacher's full pre-match interview and a catch-up with forward John McAtee on Wanderers TV

 

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Richie Wellens thumbs up

Richie Wellens: “The games they have had, they score goals but they concede so I don’t think we have seen the influence (of Schumacher) yet. I don’t think Schuey has had enough time yet to really stamp his authority, especially with the schedule.

“It is bad for everybody, it is difficult to get on the training ground. One thing they have got is good players, a good squad and lots of options.”

Team News

Wanderers have captain George Thomason available again after a two-match league ban.

Gethin Jones missed a few days' training earlier this week with a sore rib he picked up in Wanderers' win over Shrewsbury, while defensive colleague Eoin Toal was also feeling the effects of a run of games since making his comeback from injury.

Forward Carlos Mendes Gomes is back in training and could challenge for a place in the match-day squad for the first time since mid-January.  On-loan striker Kion Etete remains sidelined, while defender Ricardo Almeida Santos is on the recovery trail along with long-term absentee Kyle Dempsey.

Leyton Orient will be without former Wanderers' midfielder Darren Pratley after he was sent off for two yellow cards during his team's win at Wrexham.

Defender Jack Simpson had to be substituted due to a knock at the Racecourse Ground and is rated 50-50 to be fit by boss Richie Wellens. Winger Randell Williams could face his former club after making the switch from Wanderers at the end of January.

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Victor Adeboyejo Orient

Form Guide

Wanderers are three points off the top six, with Leyton Orient currently occupying the final play-off berth.

The Whites have won four of their last five league games and are seeking a ninth home league success of the season.

Wanderers won 2-1 at Orient on the opening day of the season thanks to goals from Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo.

The visitors have lost just once in League One since late November and are on a run of five wins in their last six. The O's last lost away from home in late October.

Three consecutive wins have put Orient in the play-off places - 10 points behind the automatic promotion places.

Kick off

Saturday 3pm.

Referee

Sam Purkiss is in charge of Saturday's game.

Purkiss last took charge of Wanderers in November 2023 when the Whites travelled down to Oxford United to play out a goalless draw.

Tickets/Wanderers TV

Over 20,000 have already secured their tickets to back the lads on Saturday. You can join them buy clicking HERE.

Audio passes will be available, as always, for UK based supporters. Those based internationally can stream the game through a live video match pass on Wanderers TV.

Click here to purchase your passes.

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