Leyton Orient will be hoping to become the first League Two side to defeat Carlisle this season when they make the long trip to Brunton Park. Here we preview Saturday’s game:

Carlisle

Last Season

League: 10th FA Cup: 4th round   League Cup: 3rd round Top scorer: Jabo Ibehre 17

Last season Carlisle improved, finishing ten places higher than they managed in 2014/15. Rather than flirting with relegation, 2015/16 saw the Cumbrians finish safely in midtable with 67 points, just two points fewer than Orient.

They had to wait until their fifth game of the season to record their first league win of the season which came against AFC Wimbledon. From then on Carlisle remained firmly in the middle of the pack.

Carlisle fans were treated to good runs in the League Cup and FA Cup.

They made it through to the third round of the League Cup and they were rewarded with a trip to Anfield.   They gave a very good account of themselves on Merseyside, taking Liverpool all the way to a penalty shoot-out which the Premier League side eventually won 3-2.

In the FA Cup Carlisle progressed all the way to the fourth round where they met Everton at home. However, this time, the cup tie was not as tight as the Toffees won by three goals to nil.

Summer Transfers

This Season

League Two: 9th  League Cup: 2nd Round  Top scorer: Reggie Lambe 3

Carlisle United have made a promising start to the season, they are unbeaten in their first six league games of the season and they are the only side in the division yet to taste defeat. However, four of their matches have ended in draws, giving them 10 points. The Cumbrians are currently in 9th place in League Two with only goal difference keeping them out of the play-off places.

Kieth Curle’s side began the new campaign with a long away trip to Fratton Park and they headed North with a point following a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.

They followed that up with back-to-back home wins, first beating Port Vale in the League Cup and then recording a 1-0 win over Plymouth. They then recorded draws with Cheltenham Town and Cambridge United.

Curle’s side took Championship Derby all the way to penalties in the second round of the League Cup but suffered defeat in the shoot-out.

The Cumbrians managed to bounce back with a win at Barnet before returning to action at Brunton Park last Saturday.

Carlisle hosted Accrington Stanley and though they had the better of the first half they found themselves a goal down just before the hour. Billy Kee put the visitors in front, heading home from Rommy Boco’s cross to the far post.

However, less than ten minutes later Carlisle equalised. Nicky Adams picked the ball up outside the box and carried it forward before bending a shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the Stanley net. Both sides had opportunities to grab the winner but neither managed to score a second.

 

Last Line-up:

Gillespie

Miller  Raynes  Gillesphey  Grainger

Joyce  Jones

Lambe  Devitt  Adams

Ibehre

(4-2-3-1)

Substitutes:

Crocombe , Atkinson, Ellis, Kennedy (Joyce 77′), Wyke (Devitt 45′), Penn, Miller (Ibehre 66′)

Team News

Carlisle boss Keith Curle is set to have his full squad available to him for the visit of the O’s.

There had been concerns over the fitness of Shaun Brisley after he picked up a knock last time out, but he is expected to be fit enough to be considered for selection.

Jason Kennedy also made his return from injury last time out for the Cumbrians.

Ex O’s

Orient youth graduate Jabo Ibehre broke into the first team at the age of 17 in March 2000. Over the next 8 years he made 243 appearances for the O’s scoring 41 goals. He joined Carlisle in June 2015.

Carlisle’s assistant manager Colin West played over 200 games for the O’s between 1993 and 1998.

In January 2016 Shaun Brisley joined the O’s on loan until the of the season. He made 16 appearances for the club, scoring one goal.

Nicky Adams played six games for Orient on loan from Leicester City in January 2010 and he impressed during his time with the club.

 

 

Leyton Orient

Last Saturday, Leyton Orient recorded a 1-2 win at the Globe Arena, knocking Morecambe off the top of the table.

Liam Kelly broke the deadlock for the visitors just before the half-hour. The O’s midfielder beat Barry Roche with a fine curling shot from outside the both to make it three goals in his last three league games.

The O’s went in ahead at the break but they were pegged back early in the second half. Just four minutes in, Kevin Ellison produced a curled shot of his own from range which beat Alex Cisak.

Just six minutes later the O’s restored their lead. Paul McCallum’s blocked shot fell to Jordan Bowery who worked the space for a shot. His effort took a big deflection, leaving Roche helpless as the ball travelled in to the Shrimps net.

That victory saw the O’s move up to 7th place in League Two and extended their unbeaten run on the road to three games.

Team News

Jay Simpson remains on the sidelines due to his back injury, however, it is hoped that he will be back in training next week.

Nigel Atangana also missed the trip to Morecambe last weekend due to a groin/hip flexor problem which could well rule him out of this Saturday’s game. However,  Yvan Erichot was fit enough to start last time out and he is likely to continue in the side.

Against Morecambe Andy Hessenthaler handed Callum Kennedy his first league start of the season, bringing him into the side at left-back. Sandro Semedo dropped to the bench. Kennedy will be hoping to retain his place following the victory.

New signing Ulrich N’Nomo was included among the substitutes last weekend but he did not get on the pitch, therefore he will be hoping to make his Orient debut at Brunton Park.

Josh Doherty is also available again after returning from international duty with Norther Ireland’s Under-21s.

Teddy Mezague remains on the sidelines in the long term. He is not expected to feature for his new side until the new year due to an Achilles problem.

 

 

Leyton Orient had to settle for a point when they made the trip to Brunton Park last term. Carlisle took the lead after 17 minutes as Macaulay Gillesphey rifled a free-kick into the top corner of the Orient net. Five minutes after the restart the O’s were back on level terms. Jay Simpson weaved his way into the Carlisle box and fired the ball across goal and into the far corner of the net. Orient then took the lead when Ollie Palmer broke through the Carlisle defence before slotting the ball through the ‘keeper’s legs, making it 1-2. However, the O’s couldn’t quite hang on as Michael Raynes levelled the score with six minutes remaining.

When the two sides met at Brisbane Road last season the O’s lost by two goals to one. Derek Asamoah put the visitors ahead just after the hour mark but the O’s quickly equalised through Mathieu Baudry. However. Antony Sweeney sealed the win for the Cumbrians with just under 20 minutes remaining.

Orient’s last away win over Carlisle was in August 2013. Kevin Lisbie opened the scoring after 22 minutes, heading home from a Nathan Clarke long throw. Carlisle were then reduced to ten men after Lee Miller hurled the Orient captain to the ground on the edge of the pitch. Clarke landed heavily and he was taken to hospital. Scott Cuthbert doubled Orient’s lead by heading in a corner, but just before the break David Amoo scored from the spot following Mathieu Baudry’s handball. Mooney added a third with twenty minutes left and Dean Cox came off the bench to grab a brace and complete the rout with two fine finishes. That 1-5 win sparked a 12 game unbeaten run to start the 2013/14 season.

Carlisle’s last home win against the O’s was in January 2012. Francois Zoko scored almost immediately from kick off. Matty Robson and Tom Taiwo then found the net to put the home side 3-0 up at halftime. James Berrett ensured that Orient would have a miserable journey home as he added a fourth to Carlisle’s tally. However, in the latter stages of the game Jamie Cureton managed to score what would prove to be his only goal in an Orient shirt.

 

 

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Toner

Assistants: Ricky Wootton and Iain Siddall

Fourth Official: Billy Khatib

 

 

Brunton Park

Post Code: CA1 1LL

Capacity: 17,949