Crewe Alexandra host Leyton Orient in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday (3pm).

The Railwaymen will aim to build on the positive performance from Tuesday night, which yielded a penalties victory over a strong Leeds Under-21s side in the Papa John’s Trophy.

The Opposition

Orient have had a terrific start to their campaign, and sit top of League Two - three points ahead of Stevenage, who have played a game more.

In their most recent outing, they were 1-0 winners at home against Salford City thanks to a Paul Smyth winner.

The Gaffer

Richie Wellens took charge at Brisbane Road in March 2022 with Orient sitting in 20^th place, and he led them to a comfortable mid-table finish.

Wellens has a vast amount of experience managing in Football League, which includes spells at Oldham Athletic, Swindon Town, Salford City and Doncaster Rovers.

The highlight of his managerial career came during the 2019-20 season where he guided Swindon to promotion from League Two.

Team News

Christopher Long and Charlie Colkett could feature, following their recoveries from long term injuries. Zac Williams and Courtney Baker-Richardson remain doubtful, whilst Callum Ainley and Rod McDonald continue to be sidelined.

Orient could shuffle the pack on Saturday, as Wellens stated during the week that the league remains the priority for The O’s. Darren Pratley is a doubt, and Anthony Georgiou and Daniel Nkrumah are sidelined.

Head-to-Head

Leyton Orient hold the slight upper hand in past meetings, winning 12 of the 32 meetings between both sides, compared to Crewe’s 11.

The Railwaymen, however, are unbeaten in their last five meetings against The O’s, with their last encounter coming in January 2020, a 2-0 win for the Alex at the Mornflake stadium.

Officials

Sam Purkiss will take charge of the match on Saturday afternoon, having last officiated an Alex fixture in March 2022, a 1-0 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers.

He will be assisted by Billy Smallwood and Christopher Ward, with Scott Jackson appointed as fourth official.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup

South Shields v Forest Green Rovers; Bolton Wanderers v Barnsley; Boreham Wood v Eastleigh; Curzon Ashton v Cambridge United; Maidenhead United v Dagenham & Redbridge; Crawley Town v Accrington Stanley; Solihull Moors v Hartlepool United; AFC Fylde v Gillingham; Peterborough United v Salford City; Sutton United v Farnborough; Grimsby Town v Plymouth Argyle; MK Dons v Taunton Town; Ebbsfleet United v FC Halifax Town; Carlisle United v Tranmere Rovers; Bracknell Town v Ipswich Town; Chippenham Town v Lincoln City; Sheffield Wednesday v Morecambe; Hereford v Portsmouth; Shrewsbury Town v York City; Buxton v Merthyr Town; Charlton Athletic v Coalville Town; Weymouth v AFC Wimbledon; Newport County AFC v Colchester United; Stockport County v Swindon Town; Doncaster Rovers v Kings Lynn Town; Gateshead v Stevenage; Fleetwood Town v Oxford City; Burton Albion v Needham Market; Bradford City v Harrogate Town; Port Vale v Exeter City; Torquay United v Derby County; Bristol Rovers v Rochdale AFC; Wycombe Wanderers v Walsall; Wrexham v Oldham Athletic; Barnet v Chelmsford City; Woking v Oxford United; Chesterfield v Northampton Town; Cheltenham Town v Alvechurch; Barrow AFC v Mansfield Town.

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