The O’s made their Football League return at an emotional Brisbane Road last week, now they head to Cheshire for their first away fixture, where they’ll face a Macclesfield side bruised after falling late on to Exeter.
Last Time Out
Given the circumstances, Orient put in a performance that perhaps rivals any that they achieved throughout their hugely successful title winning season, against Cheltenham on Saturday.
On a day full of mixed emotions, Ross Embleton’s side produced a display that encapsulated the lasting legacy Justin Edinburgh has left on this club. There was grit, determination and fortitude aplenty on display in E10, but there was also a calmness and assuredness on the ball that allowed the O’s to dominate the game.
Following a poignant pre-match tribute to their departed gaffer, it was understandable that Orient started slowly and on another day they could have easily found themselves one down.
Luckily for the O’s referee Michael Salisbury judged that Dean Brill didn’t deliberately clip Cheltenham striker Luke Varney in the box and instead booked the 36 year old for diving.
As a result of the challenge Brill had to be substituted, but the break in play as he received treatment seemed to steady Orient and from that moment on Cheltenham barely threatened.
Despite having the majority of the ball the O’s were creating very little, that was until the 68th minute when the ball dropped in the six yard box for Josh Wright to prod home.
As not only his last ever signing but also a close personal friend of Edinburgh, Wright was an extremely fitting goal scorer and the celebrations that followed his goal were some of the most touching scenes ever seen at Brisbane Road.
The 29 year old sprinted towards the dugout with his arms aloft to the sky in order to share the moment with Edinburgh’s family that were sat in the balcony above, before hoisting up a shirt emblazoned with ‘Edinburgh 3’.
Almost immediately after the opening goal the game was affectively ended as a contest with two Robins red cards. First Varney received his second yellow for raising an elbow in a challenge with Marvin Ekpiteta, then Rohan Ince received his marching orders for a display of dissent at the decision to send his teammate off.
In truth though, even without the red cards, Orient were worthy winners on a day that many fans will struggle to forget for a myriad reasons.
Predicted Lineup
Sargeant
Ekpiteta Coulson Happe
Ling Clay Wright Brophy
Maguire-Drew
Angol Wilkinson
There are two main selection dilemmas facing Embleton as he looks to build on a winning start. However, after Brill reportedly suffered a concussion against Cheltenham, that first dilemma might be taken out of his hands by the concussion protocol in place.
Protocol demands that players who have suffered a concussion need at least six days rest before they return. Although that would mean that Brill is technically allowed to play on Saturday, it would be likely he hadn’t taken part in much training during the week and Sam Sargeant may be required to deputise once again.
The second big decision the O’s interim coach has to make is between Joe Widdowson and James Brophy at left wing back.
Widdowson was Mr Dependable throughout last season, hardly missing a match, but he was forced to sit out of last week’s game and in his place James Brophy gave Orient an attacking threat from wing back that they were perhaps lacking at times in the last campaign.
View on the Opposition
Sol Campbell did a remarkable job keeping the Silkmen in the Football League last season. However he’s been hamstrung in the transfer market over the summer by the clubs financial problems.
Winding up orders have been a regular occurrence at Moss Rose even before their Football League return and as some of the club’s players look to recoup their unpaid wages, Campbell has had to make do with a restricted budget as a result.
Two of their leading marksman from the previous campaign, Scott Wilson and Harry Smith have departed to fellow League Two clubs Oldham and Northampton respectively and two strikers from the fifth and sixth tier have been brought into replace them in Jacob Blyth from Barrow and Joe Ironside from Kidderminster.
In a bid to bolster their squad before Saturday’s game, the Silkmen have been busy in the transfer market. The club announced four signings yesterday in the shape of Connor Kirby, Reice Charles-Cook, Corey O’Keefe and Virgil Gomes. Kirby, O’Keefe and Gomis all sign on loan, whilst Charles-Cook joins on a permanent deal.
Despite their issues off the field, Macclesfield put in an impressive showing last weekend. Many observers considered Campbell’s side incredibly unlucky to lose out 1-0 to Exeter at St James Park and the stats back that up. The Silkmen outscored their highly fancied opponents 1.2 to 1.0 on the xG scale, which means the O’s cannot afford to come into this fixture with any complacency.
Last Time the Two Met
The last time Macclesfield and Orient faced each other was just last year in April 2018. The Silkmen knew that a win would secure them the National League title but, live on BT Sport; the O’s held them to a draw, with Josh Koroma’s strike cancelling out Danny Whittaker’s opener.
