We play our second match at Blundell Park in four days tomorrow as Leyton Orient make the trip North to take on the Mariners in Sky Bet League Two.
Coming off the back of a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Harrogate Town on Tuesday, Paul Hurst’s men will be keen to put on a good show against the league leaders in our final match before the big trip to take on Southampton in the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round next week.
Team News
Striker Ryan Taylor continued his comeback on Tuesday after coming off the bench in the 77th minute. He so nearly gave Town the victory in the dying moments but saw his header from point-blank range saved brilliantly by Harrogate keeper Mark Oxley.
He will look to build on that showing with increased minutes tomorrow and his return comes at a good time for Hurst and his squad with the Mariners in the midst of a hectic fixture list.
With Taylor’s return, the Mariners have just Kieran Green, Otis Khan and Jordan Cropper on the comeback trail, the manager confirming the latter’s return to training last week. He also featured in Town’s 2-1 Lincolnshire Senior Cup Semi-Final defeat to Grantham Town last Tuesday.
Leyton Orient
Tomorrow’s visitors travel to Blundell Park sitting top of the League Two table, currently with a thirteen-point lead over Stevenage in second place having played two games more than their fellow promotion chasers.
With only five losses to their name throughout the 2022/23 season so far, Orient arrive in fine form having won four of their last five matches.
Paul Smyth is their top scorer so far this campaign with nine goals to his name while fellow forwards Charlie Kelman and Ruel Sotiriou have four apiece. Midfielder Theodore Archibald is certainly one to watch with five goals to his name, along with George Moncur.
Their ability to share goals around has seen Orient, despite top-scorer Smyth having just nine goals, boast one of the most potent attacks in the league with 43 in 33 matches.
Manager Richie Wellens also has the likes of experienced football league players Darren Pratley and Omar Beckles, the new Chair of the PFA.
Previous Meetings
The two sides have faced each other 47 times in the past with the Mariners winning 24 of those matches, three more than tomorrow’s visitors.
Our most recent victory over Orient came in October 2020 when Town won 3-2 at Brisbane Road with captain Luke Waterfall and George Williams scoring before Montel Gibson’s injury time penalty. You can watch the highlights of that match HERE.
Referee
Andy Haines will be tomorrow’s referee and he will be assisted by Ivan Stankovic and Danny Jarvis.
Haines has refereed two Town matches already this season after officiating our 0-0 home draw against Bradford City in October as well as our 1-1 draw when Gillingham visited Blundell Park in September.
Coverage
Tomorrow’s match is available for overseas viewers only, live on Mariners TV! Supporters can purchase match passes to take in all the action for just £10 HERE.
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