Kevin Nolan will be hoping to continue his promising start in management by making it a hat-trick of wins when his Orient side host Cambridge United. In the opposite dugout Shaun Derry is also looking to build his reputation as a manager by leading Cambridge towards the play-offs. Here we preview Saturday’s game:

Leyton Orient

On Tuesday night Kevin Nolan made it two wins in a row as his Orient side recorded a narrow victory over Newport County.

Orient made a solid start to the game, but Newport County eventually managed to get on top and dominate possession. Neither side created much in the way of clear-cut chances, however just before the break Alex Cisak was required to make a superb reaction save to keep the visitors out.

In the second half substitute Armand Gnanduillet had an opportunity to open his account for the club but he fired wide. Wilkinson then went close for Newport at the other end.

Kevin Nolan handed himself his Orient debut, coming off the bench with just over ten minutes left and his hooked cross led to the penalty. As Jobi McAnuff tried to reach the ball referee Andy Davies judged that Andrew Hughes had pushed the Jamaican midfielder. Despite his recent misses Jay Simpson stepped up and converted the penalty to take his tally to 22 goals for the season and secure another three points.

That was the first time the O’s have managed two league wins in a row since the first month of the season. It was also their first consecutive clean sheets of the campaign, the last time an Orient defence managed that was back in March 2015.

Team News

Kevin Nolan is likely to continue on the bench as he gets to grips with his play-manager role.

New loan signing Shaun Brisley didn’t join in time for the match on Tuesday night but he will be hoping to break into the starting line-up for this weekend’s fixture. However he may well have to wait for his chance given the clean sheets that the back five have managed in the last two games.

Cole Kpekawa missed the victory over Newport in mid-week due to a foot injury and the QPR loanee isn’t expected to be fit for this weekend.

Alan Dunne has also been on the sidelines with a groin injury but he is back in training. Sammy Moore has not been included in either of Nolan’s matchday squads so far.

Lloyd James (Achilles), Dean Cox and Paul McCallum (knee ligament injuries) remain out of action.

 

Cambridge United

Summer Transfers

Winter Transfers

This Season

League 2: 12th  FA Cup: 2nd round  League Cup: 1st round  Top Scorer: Barry Corr 12

Cambridge United currently sit in 12th place in League Two on 38 points from 28 games.

When Shaun Derry was appointed as Richard Money’s successor in November the U’s were 14th. Though he lost his first two league games in charge Derry helped his side to string together a six-match winning streak that included five wins, which saw them climb as high as 10th. However, Cambridge are yet to taste victory in 2016.

They began the year with a heavy defeat against AFC Wimbledon and they then lost at Crawley Town. They then managed to keep a clean sheet in a draw with Luton Town.

Last Saturday Cambridge snatched a point against Hartlepool thanks to a stoppage time equaliser. The first half remained goalless largely due to some good saves from U’s stopper Will Norris and the deadlock remained until the 70th minute mark when Jake Gray gave Hartlepool the lead. The on loan forward raced on to a through ball and poked the ball past Norris. It was looking like the visitors would hold out for the win but the U’s struck late on. Ben Williamson brought down a long ball forward and fired the ball into the Hartlepool net from close range.

Last Line-up:

Norris

Furlong  Legge  Roberts  Page

Dunne

Berry           Ledson

Simpson

Ahearne-Grant   Williamson

(4-1-2-1-2)

Substitutes:

Beasant, Omozusi, Coulson, Donaldson (Ledson 71′), Dunk (Ahearne-Grant 54′), Horne, Corr (Simpson 63′)

Team News

Cambridge boss Shaun Derry will be without Greg Taylor and Conor Newton  as they are currently on the sidelines with leg and back injuries respectively.

Barry Corr will also miss the match at Brisbane Road. Cambridge’s top scorer has been playing despite a knee injury but the injury has required surgery to repair his cartilage and as a result he has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

 

Ex O’s

Elliott Omozusi made 149 Orient appearances during two spells with the club. He joined Cambridge in the summer.

Robbie Simpson made 16 appearances for the O’s during the 2013/14 season.

 

When Orient made the trip to the Abbey Stadium in September they had to come from behind to claim a point. Jay Simpson hit the post in the first half and the O’s enjoyed a number of chances but they could not find a way past U’s stopper Chris Dunn. The home side opened the scoring early in the second half through Jacob Blyth. The O’s had to be patient, but they eventually crafted the equaliser with just under twenty minutes left. Mathieu Baudry played Jay Simpson through on goal with a fine lofted pass and the former Arsenal man slotted the ball past Dunn and into the net.

The two sides last met at Brisbane Road in March 2005 and they played out a 1-1 draw. Matt Lockwood opened the scoring for the hosts with just under twenty minutes left but Tes Bramble hit back just three minutes later to secure a point for the visitors.

Cambridge’s last away win over Orient was in May 2004. Luke Guttridge gave the U’s an early lead by scoring after just 8 minutes. The O’s struggled to get back in the game and their task was made even more difficult when Ciaran Toner was sent off shortly after the hour.

Orient’s last home win over the U’s was back in February 1999. Carl Griffiths gave the O’s the lead mid-way through the first half. Cambridge were then reduced to ten men when Andy Duncan was dismissed and Martin Ling sealed the win for the O’s shortly after the break.

 

Match Officials

Referee: Michael Bull

Assistants: Adrian Sannerude and Andrew Quin

Fourth Official: David Rock

 

 

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