It’s another Sky Bet League One meeting in the capital on Sunday as Cambridge United round off 2024 against Leyton Orient at the Gaughan Group Stadium…
How to Watch
The U’s have officially sold out their allocation of 1,264 for the clash in E10, which kicks off at 3pm.
Therefore, the only way for those without a ticket to get behind the boys is through their CUFC TV account. Overseas supporters can stream the game live, whereas UK U’s can tune into audio commentary.
The match is not available to view on Sky Sports+.
Opposition Focus
A Club with a unique history, Leyton Orient were founded back in 1881 and have had to evolve numerous times throughout many obstacles. From the Clapton & District League in 1883 to the Football League in 1905, the O’s would remain a thoroughly competitive Division Two side for decades before peaking with a sole season in Division One in the early 1960s. Bad ownership forced the club out of the Football League for the first time in 2017, but they roared back at the second attempt and as recently as 2023 stormed to the League Two table. Under the tutelage of Richie Wellens, they’ve immediately stabilised, with the aim this time around to improve on last season’s respectable ranking of 11th.
So far, so good, with the O’s situated in 13th with six points separating them from a play-off tilt – recent form indicates they have every right to dream big heading into the new year. Originally, they needed to shake off a lackluster start, which saw them succumb to four consecutive defeats. September was certainly better as they enjoyed a four-match unbeaten run, but inconsistencies remained, with four defeats from five in October and the sole success the following month sinking them to the bottom four. The script was flipped four weeks ago, however, with Orient currently in the midst of a scintillating streak that’s seen them record 13 points from a possible 15, with a watertight defence looking to register a seventh successive clean sheet on Sunday. With their own faithful behind them, they’ll look to remain on the front-foot throughout the afternoon.
Wellens is unlikely to tinker too much with a winning 4-2-3-1 formula. 21-year-old goalkeeper Josh Keeley has remarkably kept eight shutouts from just 11 appearances and will fancy his chances of another with an in-form back four of Ethan Galbraith, the commanding Omar Beckles, Dan Happe and Jack Currie ahead of him. Vastly experienced and still going strong at 39, Darren Pratley sits back and commands in the middle of the park, with Jordan Brown assisting him in pulling the strings. This allows widemen Oliver O’Neill and Dan Agyei – on 10 for the season – to cause havoc either side of promising Spurs loanee Jamie Donley. Charlie Kelman will hope to retain his place as the lone striker, he’s enjoying his most prolific campaign to date and is looking to include his name on the scoresheet for the third game on the trot.
Form Guide
- 07/12/2024 – Wigan Athletic 0-2 Leyton Orient – Sky Bet League One
- 10/12/2024 – Charlton Athletic 0-2 Leyton Orient – Vertu Trophy Round of 32
- 14/12/2024 – Leyton Orient 0-0 Burton Albion – Sky Bet League One
- 21/12/2024 – Barnsley 0-4 Leyton Orient – Sky Bet League One
- 26/12/2024 – Leyton Orient 3-0 Crawley Town – Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
The U’s are out to seek a return to winning ways in League One after they suffered a 2-1 defeat on the road at Charlton Athletic on Boxing Day.
A rapid start at the Valley saw the Addicks draw first blood with just 36 seconds on the clock when Tyreece Campbell caught the visitors sleeping and drilled home from a tight angle. It felt like a mountain to climb on the 20th minute when Miles Leaburn leapt highest to guide home a header. The visitors pulled a goal back early in the second half courtesy of Elias Kachunga, which turned the tide and allowed United to rally on, but Nathan Jones’ men remained firm.
Reflecting on the festive defeat, Garry Monk admitted: “We’re the type of team that have to be at the top of our game consistently from the get-go to the end of games. We can’t afford periods like we saw in that first 20 minutes where it was tentative and led to two really soft goals from our point of view.”
In spite of back-to-back defeats, and just the solitary league win in nine, Cambridge retain 22nd position and the four-point gap from safety. Tallying five points from their 11 matches on the road, the group know how important it would be heading into two matches within four days at CB5 with a morale-boosting result behind them.
Form Guide
- 07/12/2024 – Cambridge United 4-1 Shrewsbury Town – Sky Bet League One
- 10/12/2024 – Cheltenham Town 2-1 Cambridge United – Vertu Trophy Round of 32
- 14/12/2024 – Wrexham 2-2 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 20/12/2024 – Cambridge United 0-4 Huddersfield Town – Sky Bet League One
- 26/12/2024 – Charlton Athletic 2-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Leyton Orient Wins: 16
- Cambridge United Wins: 21
- Draws: 14
Last Time We Met
Monday 1st January 2024 – Cambridge United 0-2 Leyton Orient – Sky Bet League One
Funnily enough, the sides kickstarted 2024 against each other on a cold afternoon at a bumpy Cledara Abbey when the O’s secured a professional 0-2 victory. Following a closely-fought first half, the side from London came out of the blocks firing by racing into a two-goal lead moments after the break thanks to close-range finishes from Jordan Brown and Dan Agyei. The hosts were unable to muster a response and score for a sixth successive game, with their winning run at CB5 terminated.
The line-up that day: Stevens, L. Bennett, Okedina, Morrison, Andrew, Cousins, Digby, Lankester, Thomas, Brophy, Janneh.
Boot in Both Camps
The word legend is an often overused word in sport, but it’s an understatement for local lad Josh Coulson, who was critical for both sides in their quests to escape non-league. Born in 1989, the centre-back cut his teeth as part of United’s youth scheme back in 2006 and made his professional debut for his boyhood club the following year against Halifax. In the next 11 years – and over 324 games - he lifted the FA Trophy and helped achieve promotion in 2014, scored their first goal back in the Football League and featured in both the FA Cup fixtures against Manchester United. Leyton Orient came calling on a permanent deal in 2018, where he soon became captain and helped win the National League title with some colossus displays and eight vital goals. Now 35, Josh spent a season with Southend United in 2021/22 before departing for Kings Lynn Town, with who he currently plies his trade and will be eyeing another promotion for the CV.
Officials
- Referee: James Oldham
- Assistant Referee: Stephen Brown
- Assistant Referee: Conall Bartlett
- Fourth Official: Alan Dale