Justin Edinburgh eyeing defensive improvement from Leyton Orient ahead of Tranmere Rovers fixture
Leyton Orient head coach Justin Edinburgh looks on (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
The O’s boss will have a nice selection headache on Saturday with Sam Ling, Alex Lawless and Dan Holman all available
Sam Ling in action for Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo). - Credit: David Simpson/TGS Photo
In-form Tranmere Rovers travel to Brisbane Road this weekend and Leyton Orient boss Justin Edinburgh knows an improvement at the back is required from his squad.
The O’s have won two of their last three games, but conceded seven goals during that period with three shipped in the 3-2 home loss to Aldershot Town on January 27 and another three conceded during a 4-3 win at Dover Athletic last Saturday.
Orient threw away a three-goal advantage at the Crabble Athletic Ground, but made it through to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy thanks to a stoppage time David Mooney winner.
With Micky Mellon’s Rovers coming to the capital off the back of six wins from their last nine league fixtures, O’s know they must be at their best to win on Saturday.
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“It is six goals conceded from our last two Saturdays and if you are going to be successful, and that’s what we want to be, then you can’t allow that to happen,” Edinburgh told BBC London last weekend.
“You are not going to score four every week and there is never a fear we won’t score goals with the quality we have, but the lapses in concentration have hurt us bad.
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“I don’t think it is as a unit, it is individual and certainly we can iron that out and we will as we move forward.”
Edinburgh will have another nice selection headache this weekend with two players both available again after sitting out Saturday’s win at Dover.
Alex Lawless is back following a two-match suspension, while Dan Holman can be selected after he was ineligible to play in the FA Trophy last weekend.
Ebou Adams has impressed after filling in for Lawless during the 2-1 win at Halifax Town and Saturday’s cup success.
Meanwhile, forwards Macauley Bonne, Matt Harrold and Mooney all scored last weekend, so it won’t be easy for Edinburgh to decide who plays against Tranmere.
He added: “There are real decisions for me to make and as a manager that is what you want. Competition is really strong now and that is what we need going forward.”
One player unavailable to Orient for the foreseeable future is James Dayton after he suffered a serious hamstring injury during the 3-2 defeat to Aldershot. He is set to miss the rest of the season.
New signing Sam Ling will hope to be involved on Saturday though, after he joined from Dagenham & Redbridge this week.
