Match Preview: v Leyton Orient (H) Match Preview: v Leyton Orient (H)
Posted by: Bescot Banter

Match Preview: v Leyton Orient (H)

Here we take a look ahead to the Saddlers' League Two clash with Leyton Orient.
Don't forget to join us across our social media channels where we'll bring you all the matchday build-up, in-game updates, and post-match reaction as the Saddlers return to action.

PRE-MATCH VIEWS
Arriving at the match on the back of a disappointing defeat to Salford City, Michael Flynn's Saddlers will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome Leyton Orient to the Banks's this weekend.

The loss to the Ammies, a result which saw the Saddlers' unbeaten run ended at six games, came as a result of yet more individual and collective errors as the Reds can't seem to get out of their own way, with so many points simply given away.

With few games remaining between now and the end of the season, it is crucial for the players who are set to be out of contract to put themselves in the shop window, whether they hope to remain in WS1 or not.

With budgets capped and space in squads continuing to be something of a premium, players can ill afford to go into next season without a club, especially with so many players already forced to play the waiting game as clubs cut their cloth accordingly.

Opponents Leyton Orient also arrive at the match on the back of a defeat as they lost to bottom-of-the-table Oldham Athletic in midweek as George Ray's own goal was added to by Callum Whelan 90th-minute effort to secure three welcome points for the struggling Latics.

The result saw Orient miss out on the opportunity to leapfrog the Saddlers in the table and also saw an unbeaten run end after seven games, a run they'll no doubt be keen to repeat starting with their trip to the Banks's.

HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Leyton Orient have met on seventy-six previous occasions and its Orient that hold a comfortable win/loss advantage having won on thirty-one occasions compared to the Saddlers' twenty-four.

There have also been twenty-one draws in the history of the fixture, a history which began at Whittle's Athletic Ground on Saturday, 12th October 1929 as Clapton Orient and the Saddlers met in a Division Three (South) clash which ended all-square with one goal apiece.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The EFL has confirmed that Andy Haines, who is based in Tyne & Wear, will be the man in the middle, whilst Kevin Morris and Darren Wilding have been named assistant referees. Simon Shaw will act as Fourth Official.

GAMES
OFFICIATED
30
YELLOW
CARDS
RED
CARDS
82
1
PENALTIES
AWARDED
6

CATCH THE MATCH
If you're not planning on going to the game you can catch the match via the club's in-house service - iFollow Walsall - which takes you through the highs and lows of every Saddlers game.

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