By Nathan Jackson
October 13 2005

City will be hoping for a similar performance against Orient that was seen in the Imps' last trip to the capital. The Imps' last visit to London saw them almost elimate Fulham from the cup but it'll be much harder against Orient, a team City have only beaten twice this century.

It was just predictable in a way, you lose at home and need to get some good results in the next few games and it turns out, that your next 3 games are all against teams in the top 4, smashing. To be fair, we were our own victims against Cheltenham, we dominated the game (despite what several national sources claim, who obviously weren't at the game) but couldn't convert the chances and Cheltenham scored from their only chance of the game.

So the first of our 3 difficult league games, comes against Leyton Orient, a team that are currently flying near the top of the lead and will go into the game on Saturday as strong favourites and look on course for their first promotion since 1989.

Alan Marriott will more than likely return between the sticks after his suspension. Simon Raynor didn't do too badly in his time in the goal but the record of of 3 games, only 4 realistic shots against, 2 goals conceeded and only 4 points from what should have been 9 doesn't make good reading. Paul Morgan serves that last game of his suspension. McCombe is still out injured meaning the Colin Cryan will more than likely push back into defence leaving Kerr, Butcher and Keates in midfield. Birch and Asamoah should be joined up front by Ollie Ryan after the young striker impressed many in the Cheltenham game.

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Marriott

Beevers   Cryan    McAuley   Mayo

Kerr   Butcher    Keates

Birch    Ryan     Asamoah

 

Orient raced into the lead of the division after picking up a maximum from their first 3 games. A 2-1 victory at home to Macclesfield was followed by a win by the same scoreline at Bury and Orient equaled their record start with a 1-0 win at Darlington. However, it all fell apart in the next game as Rochdale ran out 4-1 winners at Brisbane Road. A cup exit to Luton was followed by a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham.

Shrewsbury Town were the next team to visit the Orient and came away with a 1-0 win and they were quickly followed by Bristol Rovers, who also went away from the E10 area of London with 3 points after a 3-2 victory.  However, Orient won by the scoreline a week later when they had their first local derby of the season, away at Barnet. A 1-1 draw at home to Wrexham was followed by another 3-2 away win, this time at Carlisle. 2 home games in 4 days produced 6 points as they saw off Torquay (2-1) and Mansfield (3-1) before last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Stockport.

Orient are a very dangerous opposition and have numerous talents to call upon and their main threat should come from Gary Alexander who is already one of the lead scorers in the division this season. Other players who should pose a threat are the ever impressive Jabo Ibehre and impressive youngsters, Efe Echanomi and Gabriel Zakuani.

City hadn't had much success over the O's in recent years. In 2001/2, the Imps travelled down to London for an FA Cup 2nd round match and despite taking a 1-0 lead midway through the first half through Hamilton, City went on to lose 2-1 after failing to cope with Ibehre as the young striker made it 1-1 before supply the cross for Steve Watts (who would later become a City player) to make it 2-1.

2 weeks later and City made the same journey down to London for the league game and to this day, it remains City's biggest defeat this century. Wayne Gray gave Orient an early lead before Steve Watts doubled the advantage early in the second half. Jon Martin made it 3-0 just before the hour and Steve Watts made it 4 just 5 minutes later. Scott Canham completed the scored to make it 5-0 to the Orient.

City's lowest league crowd saw the return match just a few weeks later. Just 1935 fans were at the game (in a time before the glory supporter popped their heads up), however, it was a happier turn out for the Imps after Ben Sedgemore and Lee Thorpe sealed the points for the Imps.

A new look City travelled to Orient in September of 2002. Adie Mike had a goal disallowed for City before Lee Thorpe had an effort disallowed for Orient after his summer transfer. However, City did get a 76th minute lead when Richard Logan hoisted a throw into the box and Futcher headed over the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. However, Lee Thorpe popped up in the last minute to earn Orient a point.

It was a case of deja vu when Orient came to Sincil Bank. Midway through the second half, Matt Brazier's effort after a corner saw the ball hit the underside of the bar before bouncing off the head of Mark Bailey to give Orient a 1-0 lead that last until the final minute when Ben Futcher scored a very lucky header.

The less said about the game between the sides in September 2003 the best but City's trip to Orient in the 2003/4 season did leave a bitter taste in the mouth for the Londoners. City had brought Gary Fletcher from Orient during the summer and Fletcher had become City's top goalscorer after only scoring once in 3 years at Orient. He opened his account for the afternoon in just the 3rd minute as he rounded the keeper and slotted home. However, his second goal of the afternoon was pure class. After picking up the ball in midfield, Fletch ran with the ball through almost the entire Orient defence and slotted the ball home to make it 2-0 and even the Orient fans were applauding that one.

The game at Sincil Bank in 2004/5 will be a game that no-one will forget anytime soon. City took a 3rd minute lead through Gareth McAuley, the lead last just 9 minutes though as Lee Steele equalised  in the 12th minute after confusion in the City box. However, within 2 minutes, it was 2-1 to City as Yeo latched onto a poor back pass and restored the Imps' advantage. However, that man, Ibehre scored against the Imps again just before half time when he was given all the space in the world to shoot. City retook the lead early in the second half from another Gareth McAuley header. However, Lee Steele headed home from a free kick to make it 3-3. Just before the end, Lockwood set Steele free and the striker had time and space to seal his hatrick and a brilliant comeback from Orient.

The return game at Orient was delayed half an hour after several floodlights failed at the ground. However, this only hungered the Imps and Simon Yeo gave the Imps' an early lead when he sent a half volley sailing into the goal from the edge of the area. Paul Morgan then made his once-a-season run into the box and almost made it 2-0 but it produced an excellent save from the keeper. Orient equalised with about 5 minutes to go when John Mackie headed home a throw in.