Leyton Orient will be keen to respond to last Saturday’s heavy defeat by keeping Kevin Nolan’s perfect away record intact and winning at Meadow Lane. However, Notts County also have a new manager in charge and Jamie Fullarton has also made a steady start with the Magpies. Here we preview Saturday’s game:

Notts County

 Summer Transfers

 Winter Transfers

This Season

League Two: 14th  FA Cup: 1st round  League Cup: 2nd round  Top Scorer: Jon Stead 11

Notts County are currently in 14th place in League Two on 39 points, seven points behind the O’s and nine points off of the play-offs.

Just before the turn of the year the Magpies parted company with Ricardo Moniz after a run of just one win in six league games.

He was replaced by Jamie Fullarton last month and the 41 year-old has made a promising start in the Notts County dugout with three wins in his five games in charge so far. Fullarton has taken charge of just one home game so far and that ended in a 2-0 loss to AFC Wimbledon.

Last Saturday the Magpies suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against York City. Fullarton’s side were 2-0 down at half-time as Michael Coulson and Bradley Fewster struck for York City. Notts County were gifted a way back into the contest just after the hour as Lubo Satka’s headed in to his own net, however the Magpies couldn’t capitalise by forcing an equaliser.

Notts County were in action again on Tuesday night as they made the trip to Hartlepool for what was a thrilling five-goal encounter. Jon Stead made an early breakthrough for the visitors, scoring after just four minutes. Liam Noble then doubled their lead ten minutes later to give the Magpies a two-goal cushion at the break. However, Hartlepool fought back with two goals in quick succession. First Jake Gray reduced the deficit, then four minutes later Billy Paynter equalised for the hosts. He had scored the first goal and Stead also notched the last goal of the game ten minutes from time, giving Notts County a hard-fought victory.

Last Line-up:

Carroll

Adams  Hollis  MacKenzie  Hewitt

Noble  Thompson  Smith  Banton

Stead  McLeod

(4-4-2)

Substitutes:

Loach, Sharpe, Burke, Audel, Atkinson (Noble 88′), Campbell (Banton 76′), Murray (McLeod 84′)

Team News

Jamie Fullarton is set to have a couple of players available to him again as he prepares his side for the visit of Leyton Orient.

Stanley Aborah missed last weekend’s fixture due to illness, but he has now recovered and he will be back in contention  for Saturday’s game.

Rob Milsom also returned to training this week following a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury and he will be hoping to return to the squad.

However, there are some doubts over the fitness of Mawouna Amevor and Scot Bennett.

 

Leyton Orient

Last Saturday Leyton Orient were comprehensively beaten by league leaders Northampton Town.

The first half was an even contest as neither side managed to fashion much in the way of clear-cut chances. However, Northampton shifted in to a higher gear after the interval.

Cobblers defender Rod McDonald broke the deadlock with an impressive overhead kick and the O’s were soon two goals behind as Ricky Holmes spectacular volley flew in to the Orient net from outside the area.

The O’s continued to push forward in an attempt to find a way back in to the game but they failed to make the breakthrough. They were then hit at the other end by a brace from James Collins which put the match well beyond Orient’s reach.

That defeat saw the O’s slip down the table again and they currently sit in 9th place in League Two, however they are just two points off of the play-off spots and a win could potentially see them move above Portsmouth and Mansfield.

Orient have won both away games under Kevin Nolan so far and they will be hoping to retain that perfect record on the road and make it a hattrick of away victories.

Team News

There aren’t any new injury concerns in the Orient squad for Nolan to contend with.

Jerome Binnom-Williams missed the defeat against the Cobblers due to illness but he is thought to be available for selection again.

Charlie Grainger is also fit again after recovering from the wrist injury that he suffered in training and he regained his place on the bench last weekend.

Injured trio Paul McCallum, Dean Cox (knee ligament injuries) and Lloyd James (Achilles) are all making progress in their recoveries. James is thought to be closest to returning to action, however the trip to Meadow Lane will come too soon for him.

Nolan will have to decide whether to make changes to his side following last Saturday’s disappointing defeat, with Nigel Atangana and Armand Gnanduillet being the most likely candidates to come in to the side.

The Orient player-manager has discussed the possibility of reverting to two up front to provide support for Jay Simpson.

 

 

When the O’s hosted Notts County at Brisbane Road earlier this season they managed to overcome the Magpies by three goals to one. Sammy Moore gave the O’s the lead after a quarter-of-an-hour by firing the ball past Scott Loach on the volley after Bradley Pritchard’s chipped pass. Notts County equalised straight after the kick-off for the second half, as a quick free-kick and a skillful run from Adam Campbell resulted in a simple chance for Jon Stead. However, Jay Simpson restored Orient’s lead ten minutes from time, as he followed up after Sean Clohessy’s shot was parried. Sammy Moore then sealed the win with an outstanding long-range strike.

Orient claimed a point on their visit to Meadow Lane last season. The O’s went behind after Nathan Clarke pulled Jake Cassidy down inside the penalty area and Zeli Ismail converted from the spot. However, the O’s drew level just five minutes into the second half, David Mooney went down in the box following a mistimed challenge from Curtis Thompson. The referee awarded a penalty and Chris Dagnall beat Roy Carroll from 12 yards. The visitors were in the ascendancy for the remainder of the contest, but they couldn’t find the vital second goal.

The O’s last took all three points from Meadow Lane in December 2011. Stephen Dawson put Orient ahead just before the interval and Jonathan Tehoue added a second goal five minutes from time. Lee Hughes pulled a goal back immediately for Notts County and Leon McSweeney was sent off in injury time, but the O’s were able to see the game out.

Notts County’s last home win against the O’s was in September 2010. Goals from Lee Hughes and Craig Westcarr gave the home side a 2-0 lead but Ryan Jarvis reduced the deficit before the break. Matthew Spring drew Orient level ten minutes after the restart, but Hughes popped up again, scoring the winner in the 74th minute.

 

 

Match Officials

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Assistants: Marvyn Amphlett and Joe Simpson

Fourth Official: Peter Gooch

 

Meadow Lane

Capacity: 20,300

Post Code: NG2 3HJ

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