Newport County AFC are hoping to continue their New Year form when they visit the Breyer Group Stadium to take on Leyton Orient, on what is sure to be an emotional day for both sets of supporters. The Exiles will be looking for their third league win in a row when they make the trip to London, and their fifth in all competitions.
Here, you can find all the facts and statistics ahead of this League Two matchup...
Leyton Orient in League Two so far
Leyton Orient currently find themselves occupying 20th position in the league, after a difficult season so far.
Last season’s National League champions have amassed 28 points from 28 matches this season, scoring 34 goals and conceding 45.
The O’s seem to prefer playing away from home, where they have picked up 12 points, as they have won 16 points when playing away from the Breyer Group Stadium.
Team News
Orient have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
During Tuesday’s draw with Northampton Town, midfielder James Dayton was dismissed for a confrontation with Scott Wharton, which also saw Wharton sent off.
Leyton Orient vs Northampton: Sargeant, Ekpiteta, Coulson (Maguire-Drew 57”), Clay, Wilkinson, Happe, Brophy, Harrold (Sotiriou 57”) Marsh, Cissè (Dayton 63”), Wright
One to Watch – Josh Wright
Midfielder Josh Wright is Orient’s top scorer this season, with 8 goals from 28 matches. He joined Orient in June from Bradford City.
Wright has previously played for Orient, twice on loan in the 2013 season and in 2014/15 before joining them permanently for the 2015 season.
The 30-year-old has also represented his country at youth levels, captaining the U16s and U17s England sides.
Manager – Ross Embleton
Ross Embleton is in charge of Leyton Orient for the fourth time, the first three times coming on an interim basis. This time he has the reins on a 12 month rolling contract.
After Carl Fletcher was sacked in November, Embleton took charge of the O’s, guiding them to seven points from his ten games as Head Coach.
The 38-year-old joined Orient in 2017 and in that November, took interim charge alongside Dean Brill.
Last Meeting Between the Sides
County have been the bright starters of late, however it was Orient who took the lead in the first minute of the reverse fixture in December.
Forward Ruel Sotiriou looped a header over Tom King in the County net to give Orient the advantage, before a late Padraid Amond strike saw the sides share the points.
In this fixture, County had plenty of chances to secure all three points, but they went begging.
The Exiles will need to be clinical on Saturday to bring the win back to South Wales.
As well as the football from the Club's first meeting earlier this season, Justin Edinburgh was posthumously inducted in to NCAFC's Hall of Fame after a brilliant ceremony at half time of the first match.
Officials
Referee: David Rock
Assistant Referee 1: Paul Yates
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Finch
Fourth Official: Mathew Buonassisi
David Rock is in his first season as a Football League referee, having spent the previous five seasons in the National/Conference leagues.
Rock has already refereed County this season, taking charge of their 2-0 win away at Swindon in September.
This season, he has officiated 19 matches, handing out 63 yellow cards and 4 reds.
Other League Two fixtures that afternoon (All 3pm kick-offs)
Carlisle United v Walsall FC
Crawley Town v Grimsby Town
Exeter City v Colchester United
Macclesfield Town v Forest Green Rovers
Mansfield Town v Bradford City
Morecambe FC v Cambridge United
Salford City v Oldham Athletic
Scunthorpe United v Crewe Alexandra
Stevenage Town v Plymouth Argyle
Swindon Town v Port Vale
Can’t make the match?
You can follow along on social media using @NewportCounty on Twitter, or via the Club’s official Facebook and Instagram pages.
A live showing of this fixture will occur on iFollow Exiles if a Match Pass is purchased, for overseas subscribers only.
UK Subscribers can tune in to commentary by Tim Thraves by clicking on the 'Match Centre' on the main page of the website from 2:45pm.
An on-the-whistle match report of this match will be provided on the Club website upon the end of the game.
Michael Flynn’s post-match analysis will appear on the website the day after the game, while you can watch all of Flynn’s post-match press conference as-well as two County players by subscribing to iFollow Exiles.