Leyton Orient captain Nathan Clarke can’t wait to put things right tomorrow night at Rochdale. The O’s travel to Spotland for their rearranged game as they sit 2 points from safety at the bottom of League 1. Orient were thumped 6-1 at Stadium MK on Saturday in their heaviest defeat since 2002 but Clarke stated “we need to put this one to one side, with only 3 games left we can’t dwell on it and go in to Tuesday upbeat and positive”.
Orient conceded 3 goals in 7 first half minutes to put the game out of sight with both Fabio Liverani and Clarke apologizing to the travelling support “we as players have let down a good number of travelling fans down, we have let them down massively but everyone needs to stick together”. Many of the away fans left before the final whistle on Saturday and Liverani stated that “I would have done the same had I been a supporter”.
Orient still have their fate in their own hands but a result at Spotland is imperative with only 3 games remaining of the season. Chris Dagnall returns to one of his former clubs tomorrow night and is keen for the O’s “put it right, Saturday’s game is gone, we need to put all of our attention and thought for tomorrow”. It may be easier said than done but Clarke’s honesty after the MK Dons result was worrying “so many of us weren’t at the races, they outplayed us, really disappointed, outworked us and sharper than us and as professionals it shouldn’t happen”
- Orient without in a win in 4, picking up just 2 point from last 12 available
- Away Record – W7, D6, L8 – last 4 away W1, D1, L2
Despite Orient needing the results for their survival hopes Rochdale still have a slim chance of a play off places but they suffered a major set back as they were beaten 1-0 at Gillingham on Saturday. Manager Keith Hill slammed referee Andy D’Urso “we are not happy with the standard of refereeing, really disappointed from the team of officials it was a poor performance” Dale lost Matthew Lund and Jamie Jones to red cards with Hill ruing the officials for potential of a result at Priestfield “If we had a full contingent of players, we would have got something from the game, in my opinion 3 points”.
- Dale have 1 win in last 5 games – 1-0 vs Port Vale at home
- Only taken 1 point from last 3 games – D1, L2 including a 4-2 home defeat by Swindon last time at Spotland
Although Rochdale sit 8 points behind 6th placed Chesterfield, Hill still wants his side to do “justice to the league” as there are a lot of things to play for. With this season being Dale’s first season in League 1, Hill spoke about how he is already building for next season with decision on many players already being made. “We need to keep the wheel turning and happy with the progress made”.
Refereeing decisions throughout the season have proved costly according to Hill with the Rochdale manager giving tomorrow’s official food for thought “I would like to be represented by a team of officials who look after my players”. Dale sit 7th on 60 points but know that a strong end of the season is needed with just 2 points seperating them in 7th and Doncaster in 13th.
- Home form – W10, D3, L8, F33, A26 – 33 of their 60 points
- Last 6 at home – W5, L1
- Prior to the Swindon defeat won their last 5 at home but conceded 4 times in first half against the Robins
- Collected 7 points from last 18 available – W2, D1, L3
- 13 points from last 30 available – W4, D1, L5
Hill is very surprised the position that Orient find themselves in, “it is a big game for us and big game for Orient, I never envisaged Orient in this position: the players they recruited and the magnificent exploits from last season”. But the Dale manager stated that “but that is football, you have to make the most of the opportunities you are given, we are fully focused on tomorrow”.
- Dale’s record against bottom 7: P13 – W11, D1, L1 only defeat came in a 1-0 defeat away to Port Vale
- Orient record against top 7: P11 – W1, D4, L6 only win came away in 3-2 victory at Chesterfield in February
Orient have the toughest run in of the sides at the bottom but Dagnall knows that “a win tomorrow will put us outside the relegation zone and we need to focus on that”. Orient have a home meeting with Sheffield United on Saturday before a trip to Swindon for the season finale with all Orient fans hoping that safety is assured before then. Fabio Liverani still believes in his sides ability to beat the drop and admitted on Saturday that “if I didn’t believe we could avoid relegation then I would have left, the players believe and we are optimistic”.
Key Dale statistics:
- 45 of their 60 points (75%) picked up against bottom of the table sides
- 14 of their 18 wins against sides 13th and below
- 50% of their home wins won by a 1 goal margin (5/10)
- 4 of their home wins secured by 3 or more goals
- 13/19 league defeats by just 1 goal but only 3 of them at home
- Failed to score in 12 games – 5 of which at home – scored in last 11 home games in all competitions
- 8 clean sheets – 6 at home but no clean sheet in 3 and only 1 in their last 13 matches
- Ian Henderson top scorer with 20 goals – 2 in his last 3 –
- Henderson been involved in 39% of Dale’s goals (27 of 69)
- Record when scored first – W15, D1, L1 – won last 9 when netted first and only defeat came at home in November, 3-1 to Doncaster
- Conceded first – W3, D5, L18 – picked up only 2 points from possible 29 at home after conceding first
Rochdale will be without suspended duo Matthew Lund and Jamie Jones after red cards on Saturday but could welcome back Ollie Lancashire and Scott Tanser. Orient could welcome back Darius Henderson and Dean Cox who sat out the defeat on Saturday.
Last Meeting – http://footballanalyst.net/2014/09/28/outdone-once-more/
Leyton Orient 2-3 Rochdale – Both sides came from behind in an entertaining game at Brisbane Road. Matt Done opened the scoring for Dale before Jobi McAnuff and Romain Vincelot put Orient ahead. But Done and Vincenti grabbed the win for Dale.
- Orient have won 4 of the last 6 meetings between the sides including 2 of the last 3 at Spotland
Prediction – Rochdale 1-1 Leyton Orient
