This article focuses upon Leyton Orient’s next opponents, Southend United, as we take a look at their form, previous meetings and much more ahead of this weekend’s fixture.
Orient welcome League One opposition, Southend United, to Brisbane Road for the final game of pre-season and the first fixture since the official name change of the ground to the Breyer Group Stadium.
Chris Powell’s men will be looking to find consecutive victories for the first time this pre-season after their 3-0 win against Bishops Stortford in their last fixture. The friendlies leading up to the 2018/19 campaign have been relatively successful for the Seasiders, the only defeat was at at the hands of a Tottenham Hotspur XI.
As for Leyton Orient, failure to see off St Albans in their last outing will have dampened spirits slightly, despite having a successful pre-season themselves. Orient’s only defeat in the 5 official fixtures was the epic encounter against Benfica B which saw the Portuguese side on the right side of a 5-4 scoreline. Avoiding defeat against the Shrimpers would mean Edinburgh’s men will have been unbeaten in England during pre-season.
Saturday’s game is to be the first since Jobi McAnuff was officially announced as the Leyton Orient captain. The veteran winger has previously captained Reading to promotion and would hope to replicate that success for the east Londoners in the upcoming season.
Team News
Southend defender Jason Demetriou is set to play at his old stomping ground for the visitors and is “looking forward to going back to Orient”. Leyton Orient are still set to be without Charlie Grainger, Dale Gorman and Matt Harrold.
Starting XI's
Potential Leyton Orient starting XI: Brill, Judd, Coulson, Elokobi, Ling, Clay, McAnuff, Brophy, Bonne, Alabi.
Potential Southend starting XI: Oxley, Demetriou, Lennon, White, Coker, McLaughlin, Manton, Dieng, Knightly, Cox, Hopper.