Leyton Orient return to action at Brisbane Road and they will be hoping to build upon last weekend’s victory and the draw in midweek. By contrast, AFC Wimbledon make the short trip to E10 on the back of a disappointing defeat and a difficult run of form so far this month. Here we preview Saturday’s game:

Leyton Orient

 

On Tuesday night Leyton Orient came close to taking all three points against league leaders Plymouth Argyle, however the Pilgrims rescued a point late on.

Jay Simpson gave the O’s an early lead in Devon as he opened the scoring after just four minutes. Ollie Palmer nodded the ball to his strike partner, then Simpson brought it down and unleashed a powerful volley from outside the box, which found the top corner of Christian Walton’s net.

It was beginning to look like Orient were going to complete a good away performance, but Plymouth managed to level the score with just under ten minutes left. Alex Cisak parried Luke Croll’s tame volley, but the ball came to Curtis Nelson and he rolled the ball into the far side of the Orient goal.

Although the O’s weren’t able to hold out for all three points, a draw against the league leaders away from home would have been regarded a decent result before the game for an Orient side that is currently under strength.

That point saw the O’s move up a place to sixth and they could potentially move as high as fourth place with a win over Wimbledon. However, Portsmouth have a superior goal difference therefore it is unlikely that the O’s will move above them.

Ian Hendon’s side have one of the better home records in the division and only Accrington and Carlisle have a better goals-per-game average at home.

Team News

The O’s could well be without their top scorer when they host AFC Wimbledon. Jay Simpson is a fresh injury doubt after he twisted his ankle in the match against Plymouth on Tuesday night. Ian Hendon substituted the striker during the first-half and Simpson will face a late fitness test before Saturday’s game.

Mathieu Baudry will also have a fitness test. The Orient captain picked up a groin/hip injury last Saturday against York and he missed the trip to Home Park as a result.

Cole Kpekawa and Jean-Yves M’voto will continue to build upon their partnership at centre back should Baudry miss out again.

Orient will also be missing Connor Essam (ankle ligaments), Charlie Grainger (appendicitis), Dean Cox and Paul McCallum (both knee cruciate ligaments).

If Simpson is ruled out, it could pave the way for Scott Kashket to make his first league start for the O’s alongside Palmer and Marquis in attack.

Alternatively Hendon may opt to play two up front and replace Simpson with a fourth midfielder, with Jobi McAnuff and Lloyd James being the most likely contenders.

 

 

Ex Dons

Sammy Moore spent five years with AFC Wimbledon, making 186 appearances for the club between August 2010 and May 2015. He was named as AFC Wimbledon Player of the Year for the 2011/12 campaign.

Paul McCallum had a loan spell with the Dons during the 2012/13 season, scoring four goals in nine appearances for AFC Wimbledon. 

Jobi McAnuff began his career with the original Wimbledon in 2001, He made 104 appearances for the club over two-and-a-half seasons before joining West Ham in January 2004.

 

AFC Wimbledon

Last Season

League 2: 15th

FA Cup: 3rd round

League Cup: 1st round

Top scorer: Adebayo Akinfenwa 15

 

Summer Transfers

This Season

League 2: 11th  FA Cup: 1st round  League Cup: 1st round  Top Scorer: Lyle Taylor 6

AFC Wimbledon currently sit in 11th place in League Two which was their final position last term. The play-off places are within their sights as they are just three points adrift.

Their first three league games of the season saw one win and two defeats. Neal Eardley’s side then managed to put together a five-match unbeaten run in the league, however that sequence was dominated by draws and the Dons managed just one win in six games in all competitions during September.

However, Wimbledon’s form improved during October. They won four and lost two from six matches and one of those defeats came against high-flying Oxford.

Eardley’s men will be hoping to end November by beating the O’s as they have not won a game so far this month. They suffered an FA Cup upset against Forest Green and then drew against Portsmouth and Wycombe Wanderers.

On Tuesday night Wimbledon suffered a narrow defeat against struggling Dagenham & Redbridge. In the first half Callum Kennedy forced a good save from Daggers’ keeper Mark Cousins from a free-kick. Cousins made another key save in the second half as well to deny the Dons. However, the visitors snatched the winning goal ten minutes from time. Ben Wilson parried Jamie Cureton’s lofted shot into his own net, gifting the Daggers three vital points.

 

Last Line-up:

Wilson

Fuller  Robinson  Osborne  Meades

Francomb  Bulman  Reeves  Kennedy

Akinfenwa  Taylor

(4-4-2)

Substitutes:

McDonnell, Sweeney,   Toonga, Rigg (Kennedy 69′), Kaja, Elliot (Akinfenwa 75′), Azeez (Francomb 81′)

AFC Wimbledon could potentially move up as high as sixth place, the position that Orient currently occupy, however they could drop down as far as 16th.

Despite their dip in form in November, the Dons are unbeaten in their last three league games on the road.

Team News

Dons boss Neal Ardley is set to be without goalkeeper James Shea again due to a groin injury, therefore Ben Wilson may well keep his place in the side despite his mistake last time out.

Andy Barcham will not get the opportunity to face his former side as he remains on the sidelines with a medial ligament injury.

However, Wimbledon don’t have any new injury problems ahead of Saturday’s game.

Ex O’s

Adebayo Akinfenwa joined the O’s in November 2003, but he made just two substitute appearances for the club. During the 2003/04 season the striker played for 5 clubs in total.

Ade Azeez had a loan spell with the O’s during the 2012/13 season, but he made just one appearance for the club, playing 45 minutes in the loss to Doncaster.

In November 2007, Andy Barcham joined Leyton Orient on loan from Tottenham. He stayed at Brisbane Road until the end of the 2007/08 campaign and during that time he made 25 appearances, scoring 1 goal.

Goalkeeping coach Ashley Bayes made 86 appearances for Orient between July 1999 and May 2002. He played in the third division play-off final against Blackpool in 2000/01.

 

 

This will be the first fixture between Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon.

The O’s played the original Wimbledon on six occasions and failed to win any of those encounters.

Their only season in the same league came in 1983/84 Division 3 campaign. Orient claimed a point in the away fixture, managing a 2-2 draw, however the O’s suffered a 6-2 defeat at Brisbane Road later that season.

Wimbledon also played the O’s in the FA Cup that year, knocking Orient out in the first round.

The O’s faced the Dons in the Football League Trophy in August 1981 and they lost by a goal to nil.

In 1979/80 the teams were drawn together in the second round of the League Cup. The tie went to a replay following a 2-2 draw at Brisbane Road and after 90 minutes the teams were drawing 2-2 again. Unfortunately for the O’s, Wimbledon went on to win the penalty shootout.

 

Match Officials

Referee: Darren Handley

Assistants: David Avent and John Law

Fourth Official: Carl Fitch

 

Follow us on twitter @TotalOrient for match updates.

How will the O’s fare against AFC Wimbledon? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.