Hartlepool hit the road to face struggling Orient

Hartlepool hit the long road south to take on struggling Orient.

Vital Quotes:

Home Team Focus:

Orient boss Russell Slade will not be happy seeing his team lying second bottom of League One However, their League position does not tell the whole story. Orient could swiftly see their fortunes change with a single win. Three points could take them not just out of the relegation zone, back to back wins could see them jump a staggering 10 places. This is a testament to how strong and competitive League One football is this season. The Os will be playing their first home League game since the end of September. Something Slade will be thankful for as his team have yet to record an away win this season. Despite the poor run of form Slade is confident and upbeat about his team and is positive that once they rediscover their scoring touch everything else will fall into place.

‘I thought it was a remarkable display to be honest. I thought our energy and creativity was really good, once again we just didn’t put the ball into the back of the net. We had five fantastic chances to score and it didn’t happen.” Russell Slade (Leyton Orient)

Away Team Focus:

Hartlepool finally seem to have found some consistency, for the first time in over two years, under the direction of caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth. Hartlpeool have won three games on the bounce in all competitions and have only lost 1 of the last 6, with the Pools defense keeping 4 clean sheets. Although Hartlepool are on a good run of form, Wadsworth does not have an easy task on his hands. He has been unable to name his strongest team, since taking the reigns 2 months ago and the injuries just keep coming. There could be up to 8 first team players missing for this weekends trip to Orient, including both first and second choice Goal Keepers. However Wadsworth has worked the loan market well and the signing of Jake Keen from Blackburn Rovers has been key to Hartlepool continued defensive success. However, Wadsworth is no mug and has been around long enough to know that 3 wins doesn`t mean anything in the context of your entire season and earlier this week he issued a rallying cry to his players, to avoid complacency and to keep the good times rolling.

‘He who sits on the cushion of success goes to sleep. There is a good feeling about the place at the moment but we have to guard against complacency because sometimes you have to work even harder when things are going well.’ Mick Wadsworth (HUFC)

Leyton Orient Team News:

Orient boss Russell Slade will name an unchanged starting line-up for the visit of Hartlepool. Slade felt his side had the better of much of last weekend’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday despite falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Goalkeeper Jamie Jones remains the O’s only injury absentee so Lee Butcher keeps his place. Striker Jonathan Tehoue played for the reserves in mid-week to build up his fitness following an ankle injury but will be among the substitutes again. There will be one change on the bench with on-loan Tottenham winger Paul-Jose Mpoku back from international duty with Belgium’s Under-19s.

Player to watch: Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels is in his second spell with the O`s and Orient Boss Slade was delighted when he penned a new two year contract in the summer. Daniels a former Tottenham Hotspurs trainee can play Left Wing or Left Back and is as strong going forward as he is going back. He has mainly been used as a left back this term but that has not stopped him getting forward and claiming 3 assists in an Orient side short on goals.

Hartlepool Team News:

Mick Wadsworth will be missing several key players for the journey to Orient. Brown, Greulich, Flinders, Humphreys and Rafferty are all set to miss the trip to Orient with Boyd, Liddle and Sweeney all facing late fitness tests. Boyd is likely to miss the game where as both Liddle and Sweeney look to over come hamstring injuries to make the squad. With Pools struggling with attacking options it is almost certain that new loan singing James Poole will feature but he may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Player to watch: James Poole

James Poole signed on laon from Premier League Manchester City this week, as Mick Wadsworth looks to bolster his attacking opetions. Poole is regarded as a fast, tricky forward who can also opperate on the wing. He is more than comfortable with the ball at his feet and likes to go past players. these are all abilities that the Hartlepool front line have been lacking since the deparute of Roy O’Donovan.

Match Facts & Stats

13 Players have graced the pitches of both teams. Including Adam Boyd, Mark Cooper and former Assistant Manager Colin West. Pools have faired pretty well against the O’s on their own patch picking up points in half of their past meetings on the road. Winning 6 and drawing 3. Pools have won 3 of the last 5 fixtures at Orient and will look to continue the treand this weekend.

Match Prediction:

Leyton Orient 0 – 1 Hartlepool
Orient have got off to a bad start this season both home and away. Where as Hartlepool have looked solid on the road. If Hartlepool can maintain their defensive record then it is possible Hartlepool could pinch all 3 points on Saturday.

Next Fixtures:

The Next game is at home for Hartlepool with a difficult game against Bristol Rovers.