Matchday Guide | Leyton Orient (A)

21 April 2023

Crewe Alexandra travel to the capital on Saturday to take on newly-promoted Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road (3pm).

Lee Bell’s side will look to make it four wins in five games and move within a point of the top half of the table.

The Opposition

Leyton Orient achieved promotion back to League One for the first time since 2015 on Tuesday evening and will aim to win the division with four to play.

Orient have won three of their last five outings, including impressive victories over promotion contenders Carlisle United and Salford City.

The Gaffer

Richie Wellens took over at Brisbane Road in March 2019 and has transformed the London side dramatically since this time last year.

Before promotion this season, another high in the Mancunian’s career was achieving the same feat with Swindon Town in the 2019/20, winning League Two on a points-per-game basis.

Fighting Talk

Lee Bell: “They’ve been the outstanding team in the league, they can do a bit of everything, and they do it well. They have got good players and they work hard for each other, but we don’t want to be part of a party on Saturday. We have our own objectives.”

Richie Wellens: “We’ve been there a long time, we need to make sure (of the title), I’ll let the boys enjoy it, but we need to refocus, reset for the last four games.”

Team News

Daniel Happe is the only doubt for Orient ahead of the fixture on Saturday, with Wellens having virtually a fully fit squad to choose from. Captain Omar Beckles is suspended.

Crewe will be without Connor O’Riordan, Ryan Finnigan, and Zac Williams. Rio Adebisi will be assessed.

Head-to-Head

Orient have the slight upper hand in the head-to-head clashes, winning 13 of the 34 meetings between both clubs with the Alex winning 12 of those.

Earlier on this season, it was the O’s who were victorious at Mornflake Stadium, winning 2-0.

Officials

Sam Allison will take charge of Saturday’s meeting, having last officiated the Alex in February in the reverse fixture against the O’s.

He will be assisted by Gary Maskell and Richard Morris, with Mark Derrien appointed as fourth official.

Ticket Information

Category	Pre-Matchday Price	Matchday Price
Adults	£20	£23
Over 65s	£18	£21
Students	£18	£21
Service people/NHS	£18	£21
Under-18s	£8	£8

How To Get There

For a full guide to a matchday at Brisbane Road, including travel guidance, click HERE.

Elsewhere in League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Swindon Town; Darrow v Carlisle United; Bradford City v Gillingham; Colchester United v Sutton United; Doncaster Rovers v Newport County; Hartlepool United v Crawley Town; Mansfield Town v Stevenage; Northampton Town v Harrogate Town; Stockport County v Rochdale; Tranmere Rovers v Grimsby Town; Walsall v Salford City.

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Match Reports

Match Report | Orient 2 Crewe 0

22 April 2023

Railwaymen beaten by two second-half strikes
Second straight defeat on the road
Loan man Finnigan back in fold

Crewe Alexandra slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient, who were confirmed as League Two champions on Saturday.

Second-half goals from George Moncur and sub Charlie Kelman took the League Two leaders to their target of the title.

It was rough on The Railwaymen, who matched the front-runners for large parts of the game and forged decent chances to score.

But errors at the back cost them, and Orient completed the league double over Crewe.

Lee Bell made three changes to the side that beat Walsall last time out. Charlie Finney missed out through injury, and was replaced at left-back by Tariq Uwakwe. Fit-again Ryan Finnigan and Courtney Baker-Richardson came in for Callum Ainley and Elliott Nevitt, who dropped to the bench.

Orient, who were without suspended skipper Omar Beckles, received a rapturous reception as they entered the pitch after securing automatic promotion in midweek.

After a lively opening, in which Crewe won a couple of corners, Dave Richards made the first real save of the game when he was equal to a Paul Smyth strike.

On 27 minutes the referee played an advantage for a foul on Finnigan, and Dan Agyei slipped Christopher Long through towards goal. The forward snatched at his left-footed shot and it was well off target.

Richards parried a close-range effort from Smyth after he’d burst into the box, and then claimed the resultant corner, before the half-hour mark.

Moncur whistled one wide, and defender Jamie McCart nodded off target from a corner, as the half came to a close.

Crewe won two early corners in the second half, with Finnigan almost setting up the opener, and the home crowd tried to lift their side.

But on 51 minutes Orient hit the front after Agyei was adjudged to have tripped birthday boy Darren Pratley in the box and Moncur slotted home the penalty.

Crewe responded well, and on 55 minutes Long was presented with a good chance inside the area but keeper Lawrence Vigouroux made a super reflex save.

On 68 minutes Agyei cut inside from the left and forced a smart stop from Vigoroux, while Richards made an excellent save from sub Jordan Brown at the other end.

Orient got their second on 77 minutes when Richards came to meet a long ball and missed his kick, and Kelman was able to walk the ball into an empty net.

Orient (4-2-3-1): Vigouroux; Sweeney (James, 79), McCart, Turns, Hunt; Pratley, Mizouni (Brown, 56); Smyth (Drinan, 79), Sadlier (Kelman, 66), Moncur; Sotiriou.

Subs not used: Sargeant, Ogie, Clay.

Booked: Miziouni.

Crewe (4-4-2): Richards; Mellor, McDonald, Offord, Uwakwe; Thomas, Finnigan (Griffiths, 57), Tabiner (Ainley, 57), Agyei; Long (Brook, 86), Baker-Richardson (Nevitt, 79).

Subs not used: Booth, Amoo, Robertson.

Booked: Thomas, Griffiths.

Referee: Sam Allison.