Leyton Orient will be hoping to return to winning ways and end a three-game losing streak at home under new boss Alberto Cavasin. Portsmouth could also do with a win to improve their form. Here we preview Saturday’s game:

Leyton Orient

On Saturday, Leyton Orient halted their losing run, but they only managed a 0-0 draw at Barnet.

That was Orient’s first goalless draw since December 2015 and their first clean sheet in three games.

The result leaves the O’s in 17th place in League Two with 12 points from 11 games. Orient are currently three points above the relegation zone, but they are also just five points off of the play-offs and five points behind visitors Portsmouth.

Last League Line-up:

Cisak

Hunt  Erichot  Parkes  Kennedy

Massey  Kelly  Cornick  Semedo

McCallum  Simpson

(4-4-2)

Substitutes:

Sargeant, Janse, Atangana, Semedo (Massey 72′), Nnomo (Cornick 62′), Palmer, Bowery (Simpson 72′)

 

That match proved to be Andy Edwards’ last game in charge as interim manager, as Alberto Cavasin was appointed as new Leyton Orient manager on Sunday. Cavasin’s English is currently limited, however, he has pledged to learn the language as soon as possible, committing to an intensive course of lessons.

The 60-year-old Italian lost his first game in charge on Tuesday night, but he will be hoping that he can remedy Orient’s home form, starting with his first match at Brisbane Road against Pompey.

The O’s have now gone five league games without a win (six in all competitions) and they have scored just one goal in their last five outings.

Team News

The O’s will continue to be without their captain Robbie Weir, as he will serve the second match of his three-game suspension following his dismissal against Plymouth.

Harry Cornick and Sandro Semedo missed out last time out due to injury and Tom Parkes suffered a nose injury in that game, leaving all three doubts for this weekend.

However, Nigel Atanagana could be available after missing the last two matches due to his groin/hip flexor injury.

Yvan Erichot (groin) and Liam Kelly (rib) also returned to action at the Hive and are therefore set to be available for selection.

Jens Janse is also available again as he served his one-match ban last weekend.

Teddy Mezague is continuing his rehab and it is hoped that he will be able to return from his Achilles injury in the new year.

Alberto Cavasin persisted with a 4-4-2 during his first game in charge, but during his managerial career he has been known to use a 3-5-2 system.

Ex Pompey

Alex Cisak joined Portsmouth in November 2012, but he managed to make just one appearance for Pompey before being recalled.

Paul McCallum in January 2015. He joined League Two Portsmouth but only managed seven substitute appearances and he was sent-off late on in just his second game for the club.

Nigel Atangana made 48 appearances for Portsmouth during a season-and-a-half with the club.

Portsmouth

Last Season

League Two: 6th FA Cup: 4th Round  League Cup: 2nd Round  Top scorer: Marc McNulty  12

Last term, Pompey were much improved as they accumulated 21 more points than they managed in 2014/15, taking them to a 6th-placed finish.

Paul Cook’s side spent the vast majority of the campaign within the top seven places of League Two and their defeat against the O’s on Boxing Day was just their third in the league during the first half of the campaign. The second half of the season was only slightly less successful as they picked up just two fewer points.

Portsmouth confirmed their play-off place with a total of 78 points.

They faced Plymouth Argyle in the play-off semi-finals and they had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Fratton Park. However, Pompey’s promotion hopes came to an end at Home Park as Argyle booked their place in the final with a 1-0 win.

 

Summer Transfers

This Season

League Two: 6th  League Cup: 1st Round  Top-scorer: Gary Roberts 6

Paul Cook’s side are currently in 6th place in League Two with 17 points from their first 11 games.

Portsmouth had to wait until their fourth game of the season to record their first victory of the season. They drew with Carlisle on the opening day and they played out a goalless stalemate with Crewe, before losing at Morecambe.

Their first win came when they hosted Colchester United and that was the start of a four-game winning streak in the league, which included a 3-0 win over Crawley and 4-2 victory over Wycombe.

That run came to an end against Accrington Stanley, but Pompey responded with a 5-1 thrashing of Barnet.

However, they ended September with a 3-1 loss to Blackpool.

Pompey suffered another defeat when they hosted Doncaster Rovers last weekend. Ex-Orient loanee John Marquis gave Rovers the lead after just seven minutes and Andy Williams extended the visitors’ advantage ten minutes before half-time. Shortly before the interval, Portsmouth reduced the deficit thanks to a goal from Carl Baker.

After the break, Portsmouth pushed for an equaliser. Baker saw an effort rebound off of the crossbar and in the latter stages his cross was met by Gary Roberts, whose header was cleared off the goal-line.

In the end, Doncaster held on to their lead to become the first away team to win at Fratton Park this season.

Last League Line-up:

Forde

Evans  Burgess  Clarke  Stevens

Rose  Doyle

Baker  Roberts  Naismith

Chaplin

(4-2-3-1)

Substitutes:

O’Brien, T.Davies, Linganzi (Rose 54′), Lalkovic (Naismith 54′)Bennett, Smith, Main (Chaplin 71′)

Portsmouth have been in great form at home so far this term, only Doncaster have claimed more points per home game in League Two this term.

However, by contrast Pompey have been poor on the road so far. Their only away win this season came at Exeter and they have lost three of their five league games away from home. Paul Cook believes that his side have been far too inconsistent, not only in terms of results but also in terms of performance levels.

Given Orient’s struggles at home (we have lost four of our five home league games), Brisbane Road could be the perfect place for Pompey to improve their away record.

The south-coast side will be well supported in E10 on Saturday, as Portsmouth have sold out their allocation of just over 1,300 tickets.

Team News

Pompey are set to be without Adam Buxton and Drew Talbot due to ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.

Noel Hunt is also a doubt for the trip to Brisbane Road as he has been struggling with a groin problem.

 

 

Leyton Orient managed to take six points from their meetings with Portsmouth last season.

Back in February the O’s won at Fratton Park by a single goal.

Portsmouth edged the first-half in terms of possession, but Orient did well to stifle the opposition and they looked dangerous on the counter.

The O’s were the better side after the break and Kevin Nolan came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock when his shot hit the crossbar. However, Jobi McAnuff put Orient in front in spectacular fashion, firing the ball into Portsmouth’s net from long range.

Portsmouth applied the pressure late on and created  a decent opportunity for Conor Chaplin only for him to head the ball over Alex Cisak’s crossbar

When the two sides met on Boxing Day, Orient came from a goal down to defeat Portsmouth in what was an eventful clash.

Pompey opened the scoring after just four minutes as a low cross deflected into the net. However, Orient were handed a way back into the game when Adam Webster pulled Jobi McAnuff down in the box. Webster received a red card and Jay Simpson dispatched the penalty to record his 17th goal of the season. The O’s then went in front in first-half stoppage time as Ollie Palmer headed the ball into the far corner of the Pompey net.

Orient looked comfortable against ten men, but the O’s also went down to ten when captain Mathieu Baudry was sent off for reacting to a tackle. However, the O’s scored from the free-kick as Clohessy’s delivery was headed home by Palmer. Evans was able to pull a goal back for Portsmouth and the visitors were only denied a point by some fantastic saves from Alex Cisak.

Pompey have failed to beat the O’s in their last six attempts. Their last victory against Orient was in the League Cup in August 1996, with Deon Burton scoring a brace. Portsmouth’s last league win over Orient was way back in April 1976.

 

 

Match Officials

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Assistants: Thomas Ramsey and Kevin Howick

Fourth Official:  Carl Fitch-Jackson