Leyton Orient vs. Latics

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday Seven

10 September 2021

Latics are looking to bounce back from the latest defeat against Barrow when they travel South to Brisbane Road to take on Leyton Orient (3pm KO).

Barrow halted a three-game winning run across all competitions and Keith Curle’s men will be hoping that get back to winning ways to offer some positivity.

Form Guide

Orient have enjoyed a solid start to their Sky Bet League Two campaign.

With just one loss in the league, coming against Harrogate Town, the O’s currently occupy a place in the play-off spaces.

Both of their league wins so far have come on home turf, against Exeter City and Bradford City, and they will be hoping to have yet more success at Brisbane Road when Oldham come to town.

The O’s Last Six:

Newport County 2-2 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient 2-0 Bradford City
Leyton Orient 0-2 Harrogate Town
Carlisle United 1-1 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient 3-0 Exeter City
Leyton Orient 1-1 Queens Park Rangers (Carabao Cup, lost on penalties)

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 67

Latics wins: 26
Leyton Orient wins: 21
Draws: 20

Scored - 102
Conceded - 88

Latics did not enjoy the best of times against the O’s last campaign, suffering defeat in both of the two League Two games played between the two clubs.

The 2020/21 season kicked off at Boundary Park, with Leyton Orient the opposition. It looked to be heading for a stalemate but a late goal from Danny Johnson saw his side leave the North West with maximum points.

In the reverse fixture, two first half goals for Orient proved to be enough to see them win the game and a 61^stminute Alfie McCalmont strike proved just to be a consolation.

Watch Out For

Forward Harry Smith has started the season in fine form.

Harry Smith.jpeg

The summer signing, who Keith Curle managed at Northampton Town, already looks to be an inspired choice at Brisbane Road and boasts an impressive four goals in his opening five appearances.

This includes a brace scored in Orient’s last fixture. Twice he gave his side the lead away at Newport County, but the Welsh side pegged Orient back on both occasions to claim a point.

His other goals have come in a 1-1 draw with Carlisle United and their 2-0 win against Bradford City.

Only Forest Green Rovers’ Matthew Stevens has scored more than the 26-year-old and he will be looking to add to his tally on Saturday.

Stadium - Brisbane Road

The Breyer Group Stadium.jpg

Capacity: 9,271

Built in: 1937

Record attendance: 34,345 (vs. West Ham United, 1964)

In The Dugout

Kenny Jackett is the man in the dugout for the hosts.

Kenny Jackett.jpg

The 59-year-old was appointed in May 2021, replacing Jobi McAnuff as boss.

Jackett has also previously managed Watford, Swansea, Millwall, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Rotherham United and Portsmouth.

As a player, Jackett represented Watford over 300 times and won 31 caps for the Welsh national side.

Match Officials

The man in the middle for the game is Ben Toner.

Ben Toner.jpg

His last fixture in charge of Latics arrived in April 2021 as we lost 1-0 against Stevenage at Boundary Park and he handed out zero red cards as well as three yellow cards.

He took charge of 32 games last campaign, handing out a total of 96 yellow cards and two red cards.

Toner will be assisted by Graeme Fyvie and Kevin Howick, with Stephen Brown the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

The O’s have been made odds on favourites by the bookies and are priced at 4/5 to win their third game of the season and strengthen their grip on a place in the top seven.

Latics are 16/5 to win their second league game of the season and 5/2 is the price for the draw.

Please gamble responsibly by clicking here. For more information visit: www.begambleaware.org

How To Follow The Game

Live commentary is only available on iFollow Latics with Roy Butterworth and Michael Brown who will be talking you through the match.

For more information, visit the iFollow Latics by page by clicking here.

Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC

Match Reports

Leyton Orient 4-0 Latics

11 September 2021

Two goals in either half saw Latics slip to another defeat against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.

Aaron Drinan and Tom James gave the hosts a half-time lead before late strikes from Theo Archibald and Harry Smith completed an afternoon to forget for Oldham, who were again hit by a host of absentees due to injury.

The result sends Latics to the foot of the Sky Bet League Two table and they know a marked improvement will be needed for the visit of Hartlepool United next weekend.

After a full week on the training ground, Keith Curle made three changes from the game against Barrow, Jordan Clarke returning to the defence and Rafael Diarra started in midfield.

Davis Keillor-Dunn went into the attack although Dylan Bahambula missed out having featured on international duty for Congo in midweek.

Orient built a solid half-time lead by striking twice on the break in the space of ten minutes.

Drinan put them in front, applying the finishing touch from close range after Archibald had turned defence into attack with a strong run from a Latics corner.

And James added the second shortly after, Darren Pratley releasing a pass from midfield, allowing the wing-back to cut in from the right and send the ball past Jayson Leutwiler.

Orient had carried a regular threat in the Latics half and they could have had more. Harry Smith sent an early header wide before Archiland broke again but this time lifted his effort over the bar.

Latics’ biggest danger in the first period came from Nicky Adams, who sent in a number of good crosses from the right but the visitors failed to capitalise.

Carl Piergianni was unable to make the most of a chance from a free-kick at the far post and later got his head to a free-kick from Faysal Bettache but directed the ball off target.

Hallam Hope was unable to connect with another cross from Adams after a good run down the right, while Jamie Bowden’s low 20-yard drive was saved by Lawrence Vigouroux.

Adams went off injured at half-time, being replaced by Harry Vaughan and within minutes he combined cleverly with Diarra on the edge of the Orient box but the visitors were unable to end the move with a meaningful effort.

The 17-year-old was soon involved again, displaying clever footwork and good vision as he took the ball out of midfield before teeing up Hope, who sent a curling effort wide of the far post.

Diarra brought a fine finger-tip save from Lawrence Vigouroux with a well-struck drive from 25 yards and the Orient ‘keeper also made a stop to deny Hope.

Despite the improvement in their play, Latics conceded again on 75 minutes, Archibald making the most of a mix-up between Clarke and Piergianni to send an angled finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

And Smith completed a miserable afternoon for the visitors, heading the rebound in from close range after Luetwiler had saved an initial effort from Dan Kemp.

Leyton Orient: Vigouroux, James, Wood, Happe, Clay, Smith, Archibald (Kemp 89), Mitchell, Drinan (Sotiriou 89), Pratley (Kyprianou 68), Beckles.

Subs not used: Byrne, Omotoye, Papadopoulos, Sweeney.

Oldham Athletic: Leutwiler, Clarke, Piergianni, Adams (Vaughan 46), Hope, Keillor-Dunn, Fage (Da Silva 85), Jameson, Bowden, Diarra, Bettache (Dearnley 79).

Subs not used: Danielewicz, Couto, Whelan, Luamba.

Attendance: 5,315 (379 away).