Fresh off an impressive victory over high-flying Stevenage, City head to the capital tomorrow to take on Leyton Orient, aiming to build on a strong start to the League One campaign.
Leyton Orient Form
After losing the play-off final and narrowly missing out on promotion last season, Leyton Orient underwent a summer of change. Key figures Charlie Kelman, Josh Keeley and Sonny Perkins all returned to their parent clubs after very successful loan spells, and Ethan Galbraith, arguably one of the best players in League One last term, transferred to Swansea City for £1.5million. To replace them, The O’s secured the services of Aaron Connolly and Idris El Mizouni, two major coups for a club at this level.
Leyton Orient began their 25/26 League One campaign away at promotion favourites Huddersfield Town, and were comfortably beaten 3-0 by the Terriers. The East London outfit quickly recovered from their opening day defeat, beating Wigan Athletic 2-0 the following week at Brisbane Road. After an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to Stockport County, Orient beat Plymouth Argyle 1-0 in Devon, rounding off a fairly decent opening four games to the season.
The O’s then took the trip up to Nottinghamshire to face Mansfield Town, and for the second time this season, Richie Wellens’ side were hammered on their travels, falling to a 4-1 defeat to the Stags. A 1-0 loss at home to Northampton Town in the game that followed rounded off an inconsistent August for Leyton Orient.
A 3-2 victory away at Port Vale proved to be Orient’s only win in September, with losses at home to Stevenage and away to Reading seeing Richie Wellens side slip into the bottom third of the league table. A third consecutive defeat away to Cardiff City meant Leyton Orient had only three wins from their opening ten in league action, nowhere near the standard fans became so used to seeing the O’s play at last season.
An emphatic 4-0 win over Doncaster Rovers in the O’s last game at Brisbane Road gave Wellens and his side a perfect boost for a good run of form, but a loss away to struggling Rotherham United in their most previous fixture epitomised the rocky start to the season Leyton Orient have had.
Team News
City manager Michael Skubala has confirmed there has been no fresh injuries post-Stevenage, with goalkeeper Zach Jeacock being the only short-term absentee due to a shoulder issue. Defender Adam Jackson is back in training and may play a part against Orient, and Justin Obikwu is fit and firing following his return from international duty. Midfielders Dom Jefferies and Jack Moylan are also both nearing returns.
Leyton Orient came through their trip to Rotherham without any new injuries, meaning Wellens may name an unchanged starting XI. Goalkeeper Tommy Simkin returned from international duty for the last game but was dropped to the bench, so Killian Cahill could therefore retain his place between the posts. Charlie Wellens, who signed a new two-year deal earlier this week, is expected to continue in midfield, while in-form forward Dom Ballard could once again partner Aaron Connolly in attack.
Match Referee
REFEREE: STEPHEN PARKINSON
Linesmen: Leigh Crowhurst and Dean Treleaven
Fourth Official: Alan Young
Stephen Parkinson officiated his first EFL game midway through the 23/24 season, and since has refereed 18 games in League One and League Two. This season, Parkinson has presided over five league matches, with one taking place in the third tier. In these games, he has given out 25 yellow cards, no reds and hasn’t awarded any spot kicks.
Parkinson has officiated one City match, a 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury at Sincil Bank last season.
Previous Meetings
Since their promotion from League Two in 2022/23, City have faced the O’s four times in league action, winning three and losing one. Both meetings at Sincil Bank ended in victories for the Imps, with the other win coming in dramatic fashion at Brisbane Road, where Ethan Hamilton netted a 90th-minute winner.
The two sides last met back in February, in a game where Lincoln looked liked they salvaged a point from 2-0 down, but a 92nd minute Charlie Kelman goal denied Skubala’s side of any share of the spoils.
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