Leyton Orient are in need of a win this weekend after three defeats in a row. However, their opponents Barnet also need to get back to winning ways after going three games without a victory. Here we preview Saturday’s game:

Barnet

Last Season

League: 15th FA Cup: 2nd round   League Cup: 2nd round Top scorer: John Akinde 24

2015/16 can be regarded as a good season for Barnet as their return to the Football League saw a comfortable 15th place finish.  Martin Allen’s side ended the season clear of the relegation zone by 28 points and they were only four points away from a top-half finish.

That is a sign of progress for a club that finished just above relegation in three consecutive seasons before they lost their Football League status in 2012/13.

Barnet compensated for a poor away record by turning the Hive into something of a fortress. The Bees’ had one of the best home records in League Two last term. Only Northampton and Bristol Rovers won more home games and Barnet accumulated the same number of points at home as Accrington, again only the Cobblers and the Gas managed more.

Summer Transfers

This Season

League Two: 17th   League Cup: 1st Round   Top scorer: John Akinde 7

Barnet have had a tricky start to the season. They have managed just two league victories this term, however, they have also lost just two of their nine League Two matches.

Martin Allen’s men are currently 17th in the league, just a place below the O’s and with the same points total, despite playing one game fewer than Orient.

The Bees drew with Cambridge on the opening day of the season, before beating Accrington Stanley in their first home league game. They then drew 1-1 with Blackpool and Crawley but they ended August with their first defeat of the campaign, losing to Carlisle.

Barnet responded by beating Mansfield and then recorded another draw when they hosted Colchester. However, last weekend, they suffered a thrashing on the south coast as Portsmouth beat the Bees 5-1, though Barnet did have to play with ten men for the last 25 minutes of the game.

On Tuesday night, Barnet had to settle for a point against Morecambe.

John Akinde gave the Bees the lead after just seven minutes. However, Barnet’s lead was short-lived as Tom Barkhuizen put the Shrimps back on level terms two minutes later.

Akinde scored his second of the game to restore Barnet’s lead on the half-hour. However, Morecambe pegged the hosts back again nine minutes from time when Cole Stockton scored from James Jennings’ delivery.

Last Line-up:

Stephens

 Vilhete  N’Gala  Nelson  Johnson

Nicholls  Togwell  Weston  Akpa Akpro

Campbell-Ryce  Akinde

(4-4-2)

Substitutes:

 Vickers, Watson, Gambin (Akpa Akpro 86′), Sesay, Taylor, Batt (Nicholls 82′), Shomotun

The O’s will have to look out for John Akinde as the Bees’ target man has scored seven goals in 11 appearances so far this term and four goals in his last four games.

The Bees are without a win in their last four home games, though they have drawn their last two at the Hive.

Team News

Barnet look set to continue without Michael Gash (knee) and  James Pearson as they both remain on the sidelines due to injury. Sam Muggleton and Ben Tomlinson could also be ruled out.

Gavin Hoyte is also likely to be kept out of action. The defender has returned to training this week, however, this weekend’s game is likely to come too soon for him.

Martin Allen will have Bira Dembele available to him again as the centre-back has completed his one-match ban following his dismissal in the defeat to Pompey.

Ex O’s

Shaun Batt also made the switch from Brisbane Road to the Hive last summer. Batt made a total 77 appearances in an Orient shirt and scored 13 goals for the club.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce’s first loan spell with the O’s came in August 2002 when the winger joined on loan from Charlton. He played 19 games for the club, scoring 3 goals before returning to his parent club in November 2002. Campbell-Ryce returned to Brisbane Road in the second half of the 2011/12 season on loan from Bristol City. He scored 1 goal in 8 appearances.

Leyton Orient

Andy Edwards’ first game as Orient’s interim manager was certainly an eventful one that ultimately ended in another home defeat.

On Tuesday night the O’s hosted league leaders Plymouth Argyle. Things immediately started to go wrong for the home side as Robbie Weir was sent off inside the first minute as referee Charles Breakspear judged his challenge on Ben Purrington to have been a dangerous one.

Argyle then took the lead ten minutes later when Jimmy Spencer poked the ball past Alex Cisak. Orient’s situation then got even worse as debutant Jens Janse was sent-off 14 minutes in, leaving the O’s down to just nine men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Orient’s remaining players showed great spirit and work ethic to stay in the contest. The home side often had to rely on long-range efforts as their goal threat. Meanwhile, the Pilgrims failed to capitalise on their two-man advantage.

That was until the 84th minute when Ryan Donaldson put the visitors two goals up, killing off Orient’s hopes of pulling off an unlikely draw. Plymouth’s second goal did not diminish the home fans’ support, as the O’s players were applauded for their efforts immediately after the goal as well as full time.

Last Line-up:

Cisak

Janse  Hunt Parkes  Kennedy

Massey  Weir  Kelly  Semedo

Simpson  McCallum

(4-4-2)

Substitutes:

Grainger, Pollock, Atangana (Kelly 12′), Cornick (Atangana 48′), Nnomo, Palmer, Bowery (McCallum 82′)

Orient fell further down the league after that defeat and are now in 16th place.

It was another loss at Brisbane Road, however, this defeat was different. Orient’s nine men (and substitutes) showed the spirit and togetherness that has all too often been lacking recently especially at home and for that the players received vocal support from the home fans.

The O’s now travel to Barnet with the aim of ending a three-match losing streak.

Team News

The match on Tuesday night has caused Andy Edwards some selection headaches for this weekend.

The club appealed Robbie Weir’s red card, however, their appeal was rejected and as a result, the Orient captain will begin his three-match suspension by missing the trip to the Hive.

Jens Janse won’t be available either as he will serve his one-match suspension.

Disciplinary matters aside, Liam Kelly and Nigel Atangana were both forced off of the pitch on Tuesday night due to injuries. Kelly suffered a rib injury after twelve minutes and had to be replaced by Atangana. However, the Frenchman then later had to be subbed off early in the second half due to a groin problem. Both players are doubtful for the match against Barnet, leaving the O’s short of central midfield options.

Speaking earlier in the week, Andy Edwards was hopeful that Atanagana would be able to train ahead of Saturday.

Freddy Moncur and Sammy Moore are both out on loan, which means Žan Benedičič could be set to make his debut as he is the only other natural central midfielder in the senior squad. However, Edwards has suggested that he could give youth players a chance in the first team.

Yvan Erichot remains a doubt as well after missing the Plymouth game due to a groin injury, however he has a chance of making a return against Barnet. If he is unavailable again Aaron Pollock is likely to be called upon to partner Tom Parkes in central defence.

Teddy Mezague remains on the sidelines with his Achilles injury.

 

Orient suffered a 3-0 defeat to Barnet when they made the trip to the Hive back in April in what proved to be Kevin Nolan’s last game as Orient’s player-manager.

The hosts took the lead in the 25th minute through a John Akinde header. Just after the interval the O’s were handed an opportunity to equalise from the spot but Bees stopper Jamie Stephens saved Lloyd James’ penalty. Immediately after Orient were dealt another blow when Sam Togwell’s shot deflected into the O’s net. Akinde then wrapped up a good afternoon for Barnet as he beat Alex Cisak to the ball and headed it home on the hour mark.

 

Barnet travelled to Brisbane Road on the opening day of last season and the O’s kicked off the campaign with a 2-0 win.

The visitors had the better of the first half but Orient improved after the break. The O’s eventually made the breakthrough fifteen minutes from time. Jay Simpson produced an acrobatic volley from Dean Cox’s cross and the ball bounced up and into the Barnet net, beyond the reach of Graham Stack. Two minutes later the hosts sealed the win with their second goal of the game. Sean Clohessy’s dangerous cross from the right was met by Paul McCallum and although he didn’t make a solid connection he buried the chance at the second time of asking.

 

Orient’s last away win at Barnet was back in September 2005. Giuliano Grazioli gave the Bees the lead inside the first minute but his goal was cancelled out by Jabo Ibehre five minutes before the interval. Gary Alexander put Orient ahead on 75 minutes and he then scored again a minute from time. Grazioli pulled a goal back in stoppage time but it was too late for Barnet.

 

 

Match Officials

Referee: Darren Handley

Assistants: Ian Smedley and Nicholas Cooper

Fourth Official: Aji Ajibola

The Hive Stadium

Post Code: HA8 6AG

Capacity: 6,418