Leyton Orient v Port Vale preview – Valiants running out of games to save their League One status
After another disappointing home loss, it seems a tough task for the Vale to win away at Leyton Orient. But stranger things have happened… here’s our preview.
PREAMBLE
- Opposition: Leyton Orient
- Competition: League One
- Venue: Brisbane Road stadium
- Date: 12th March, 7.45pm
It felt like another nail in Port Vale’s relegation coffin at the weekend after the Valiants lost 2-1 at home to fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town. Time appears to be running out for Darren Moore’s side to turn their form around. If you haven’t read it, here’s our opinion piece on some of the talking points from the weekend.
PRE-MATCH QUOTE
The message to the players is we have to get better at what we are doing…
Darren Moore
TEAM NEWS
Line-Up
Teenage striker Baylee Dipepa has probably done his chances of a second senior start no harm after his first goal at the weekend. It’s a sign of the paucity of Vale’s forward options that the 17 year-old rookie is seen as the club’s best chance of goals. However, credit is due to the youth team graduate for making the most of his first-team chance.
As for the make-up of the rest of the eleven, it’s really anyone’s guess as Darren Moore understandably continues to chop and change in search of a winning formation.
Injuries
Mitch Clark has suffered an injury setback which is a blow for the club’s only recognised full-back. Ryan Loft was also missing after suffering a facial injury, while there’s still no sign of Uche Ikpeazu.
OPPONENTS
- League position: 10th
- Form: L-W-W-L-L
- Top-scorer: Ruel Sotiriou
- Manager: Richie Wellens
Season so far
Just like the Valiants, Orient are looking upwards but their sights will be set on a late play-off place. They currently sit in tenth place and will see this game as a chance to arrest a recent blip and pick up valuable points.
Last game
Orient lost their second game in a row after losing 1-0 to Wigan Athletic at the weekend.
Man in charge
Former Swindon, Salford and Doncaster manager Richie Wellens has won fifty of his 108 games in charge.
ARCHIVE
Taken from our OVF YouTube channel here are some brief highlights of a 1992 win for the Valiants thanks to goals from midfielders Ian Taylor and Paul Kerr.
Find hundreds of Vale clips from years gone by on our YouTube channel
CONNECTIONS
Current
Vale wingback Gavin Massey had a season at Leyton Orient between 2016 and 2017. He made 36 appearances, scoring eight times. However, he left the club when they were relegated to the National League.
Former
Over the years there have been several players to appear for both including centre-halves Dean Smith and Paul Beesley plus striker Carl Griffiths.
Looking further back…
OVF favourite Andy Jones had a spell with Leyton Orient towards the closing stages of his career. Jones, who was signed by Vale from non-league by John Rudge was sold, after 47 goals in 90 games for a then club record £375,000. He moved to Orient in 1991 and scored thirteen times in 59 appearances.
HISTORY
- Port Vale wins: 35
- Draws: 11
- Port Vale losses: 20
Matches
The two sides first met in 1905 when it finished in a 2-1 win for Vale. A notable game took place in 1954 when the two sides met in the FA Cup in the sixth round. Vale won as they reached the semi-finals that year. Earlier this year, Orient won the last encounter 1-0 at Vale Park.
Brief History
Founded in 1881 as the Glyn Cricket Club, the football club, called the Orient was created in 1888. they changed their name to Clapton Orient in 1898 and joined the Football League in 1905. The club changed its name to Leyton Orient after World War Two and apart from a 21 period of being called Orient FC in the 60’s and 70’s it has remained Leyton Orient since.
A controversial reign by Francesco Becchetti saw the club drop out of the League after 112 years in 2017 but they managed to regain their League status in 2019 and were promoted to League One last season.
Predict the score
And finally
Discuss
Our dedicated match thread on the forum is the place to go to discuss the match before, during and after the action. View the thoughts of fellow fans and add your comments…
Quiz time
- Who is the current Orient manager?
- In what year was the club formed?
- What was the score in the last meeting?
Quiz Answers (no cheating)
- Richie Wellens
- 1881
- Port Vale 0-1 Leyton Orient
ArturHom
12th March 2024 @ 12:37 pm
Thanks for information.