Have our promotion chances gone for a Burton??? Tuesday night saw one of those evenings in football that come along every so often where one side is so ridiculously dominant in a game but just can’t find a way through, or the ball just doesn’t quite run for them that you start to get that sinking feeling the longer the game goes on, and sure enough bottom club Burton gleefully ripped off their highwayman masks (were they supplied by Masky Inc??) as they legged it from the CCS with all 3 points after clearly coming with a plan to frustrate that worked to perfection from their point of view. Putting that disappointment behind us, the team have the chance to put things right straight away with another home tie at the CCS when we welcome Leyton Orient on a visit from their capital city to our very own. Who Are You? The 2nd oldest professional club in London, they were founded in 1881 as the Glyn Cricket Club, they began playing football as Orient in 1888 and joined the London League in 1896 after success in the Clapton & District League. The club adopted the name Clapton Orient two years later and were elected into the Football League in 1905. Relegated out of the Second Division in 1929, the club adopted the name Leyton Orient after World War II. They’ve had a real up and down time in terms of league positions, reaching the heady heights of the first division in 1962 but lasting just one season. During the 70’s Orient won two London Challenge Cups and reached the 1977 Anglo-Scottish Cup final and 1977–78 FA Cup semi-final. The club went on to reach the FA Trophy final and win promotion back into the Football League as champions of the National League in 2018–19 and under manager Richie Wellens, the club was crowned champions of League Two in the 2022–23 campaign. Wellens himself has been in post since March 2022. Having previously managed the likes of Oldham & Swindon, Wellens’ record at Orient gives him a creditable 45.5% win rate with the London outfit and our very own BBM has described him as the best manager in the division by a long way – quite some accolade. Squad wise, Irishman and former Millwall & Sunderland Striker Aaron Connolly heads the scoring charts with 3 goals from 10 games alongside the experienced Josh Koroma (formerly of Huddersfield fame and once quoted as a player we should go for by Neil Warnock). Ex-Wurzel Tyreeq Bakinson sits in midfield alongside the likes of Tunisian Irdis El Mizouni and the gaffers own son Charlie Wellens. A familiar face is part of their back line with Jack Simpson – let’s just hope he isn’t quite as vocal as he was whilst at the City! First And Last Our first ever meeting with then Clapton Orient was way back in August 1920 at Ninian Park, with the result being a drab 0-0, played out in front of a 25,000 crowd. That 1920-21 season was the team's first in the Football League. In a ballot by members of their new league, the Bluebirds were voted into the Second Division and won their first match 5–2 against Stockport County. Cardiff finished the season tied on points with first-placed Birmingham, with 58 of a possible 84 points. The winner was therefore decided via goal average, with Cardiff placing second by a margin of 0.235. The two sides were both promoted to the First Division The victorious 1920-21 team - setting the example for the class of 2025! Last time out in the league saw our Bluebirds play out a 1-1 draw under the lights at Ninian Park in front of just over 9,000 fans. Our beloved Bluebirds snatching a point at the death with an 89th minute Ernie equaliser in a division 3 (now league 2) game. That season of course we would go on to get promoted straight back up to division 2, finishing the season as runners up behind Brighton – whatever happened to them?? Interestingly we had quite a few Welsh players in our squad that season just as we do now. A short post-match write up from the BBC described the game thus; Cardiff 1-1 Leyton Orient Cardiff's Rhys Weston takes on Ahmet Brkovic Robert Earnshaw pounced at the far post in the last minute to grab a deserved draw for the home side. Orient had gone ahead against the run of play in the 73rd minute when a superb curling shot from Sasha Opinel beat the diving Mark Walton. But City had totally dominated the game, hitting the post and having a goal disallowed. The Bluebirds also had a number of efforts cleared off the line as they bombarded the Orient goal. Cardiff coach Alan Cork sent on three extra strikers to field a five-man front line and eventually it brought reward. Earnshaw's 23rd goal of the season helping to extend Cardiff's unbeaten record at Ninian Park to 18 games. We have actually played Orient since that 2001 league game however, having twice faced them in the League Cup. Once in 2003 (4-1 home win) and once in 2007 (1-0 home win). Details from that 2007 game below; Form The ‘O’s come into this one on a pretty poor run of form with just 1 win and 1 draw from their last 6, but as we saw on Tuesday, form can sometimes count for nothing. Currently sitting 14th, I imagine many Orient fans will be suffering a bit of frustration themselves having seen their side only miss out on promotion last season due to a heartbreaking play-off final defeat at the hands of Charlton. Scoring doesn’t seem to have been an issue for the London side, with 13 goals from 10 games placing them firmly in the mid-table sharpshooters (just 2 less than we have managed), however defensively, with 18 conceded in that time they, along with Plymouth & Peterborough have the worst defensive record in the division. The potential good news for the Bluebirds is that unlike Burton, who clearly set up to not concede away from home, Orient have shipped a joint worst 11 in 5 away from their home ground. They do however still pack a punch away from home with 6 goals scored in those 5, so we will need to be on guard again this weekend at the back. It should also be noted that 1of their 2 away wins this term came at Port Vale, and we all know how much we struggled up there! On The Pitch After back to back home defeats, it wouldn’t be surprising to see BBM shuffle the pack again in the back 4 and to be fair, his hand may well be forced anyhow with Perry Ng now a serios doubt and Gabriel Osho also looking like a possible absentee, though he did make it into training – still, could we see Louis Giles get a start perhaps? Isaak Davies it seems also has had a bit of a setback and so missed training but on the plus front, Mannie Barton & Troy Perrett were both involved. A decision also needs to be made over who gets the spot ‘up top’ with Robbo still the man in form when compared to Salech, who himself is beginning to look increasingly frustrated at the way things are going for him right now and will we see a return for Alex Robertson? After being told he needs to ‘do more’ it seems his most recent training session produced some spectacular moments – food for thought there BBM?? Predicted Starting 11 Trott Bagan Fish Chambers Giles Wintle Turnbull Colwill (R) Ashford Willock Salech The Odds The Bluebirds are once again favourites but if we are to close the gap on Bradford at the summit then we’ll need to overcome a side rated very highly by our own manager. C’mon The City!!!!
Paul Went one to have played for both teams. Started out at Orient, leaving to play for Charlton, Fulham and Portsmouth before he joined us. After two seasons with the Bluebirds he returned to Orient where he finished his career. Formed a formidable force at the back with Joe Dwyer. Sadly, both no longer with us.
What a shame he wasn’t offered a new contract by Orient so we can’t give Darren Pratley a warm welcome Remote mentions Paul Went; without doubt one of my favourite City players of that era. I’ll mention Peter Kitchen who represented both clubs - a decent marksman. Scored in at least two draws for us against them down west including the famous 3-3 game. He scored the perfect hat trick for City in a hammering of Wrexham in a Welsh Cup tie
A favourite of mine too. A no nonsense defender who chipped in with a few goals. He knew where row Z was, but there was more to him than that. The endearing memory for me was when he dislocated his shoulder. Went past in front of me on a stretcher. He kept sitting up to see what was happening.
Brizzle old bean, not a bad effort, Masky is prepared to offer some assistance in polishing up your presentation. One has noticed that you continue to mention the name of Masky in your threads, like a few others on here I sense that you are suppressing certain urges towards Masky. If true perhaps we could meet up for a “check me out” opportunity pal, or maybe a “suck it and see!” Thinking of you always!
Sadly oh Masked One I am spoken for and I fear that I could turn after an encounter with you.... Alas my marriage has to come first (a bit like the City this season). As kind as your offer is, I must decline. I do hear however that some down west may enjoy a little bit of your famed sausage meat.
