Southend v Leyton Orient: O's to book Wembley date

 

With a place at Wembley at stake, it's all to play for in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern area final second leg. Christian Crowther previews the big game...

 

Southend v Leyton Orient, Wednesday 19:15, Sky Sports 3, Match Odds: Southend 2.9, Leyton Orient 2.7, The Draw 3.35

 

This southern area final is delicately poised ahead of Leyton Orient's short trip east to the seaside, after their League Two hosts dug out a 1-0 win in the first leg at the Matchroom Stadium.

 

That result has given the Shrimpers the slenderest of advantages as they bring Orient back to the familiar surroundings of Roots Hall, though a growing injury list and some poor form could well swing this tie back the way of the O's.

 

Southend boss Paul Sturrock will be unable to call on up to nine members of his first-team squad, either through injury, suspension or being cup-tied, so will be forced into playing a fully patched up squad on Tuesday.

 

Former Orient midfielder Marc Laird is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury while Caolan Lavery has been forced into returning to parent club Sheffield Wednesday as he faces six to eight weeks on the sidelines.

 

Since securing the win at Orient, the Shrimpers' league promotion push has really suffered after a return of just one point from three games, including successive home defeats to Cheltenham and Northampton respectively leading up to this one.

 

Meanwhile Orient, who missed a host of chances in the first leg, followed that result by overcoming League One promotion hopefuls Tranmere, before relegation-threatened Hartlepool shocked them with two last-gasp strikes at the weekend after the O's had led for 80 minutes.

 

With a much fitter squad in comparison, O's manager Russell Slade will fancy his side's chances of a turnaround on the south coast.

 

First Goal Odds

 

With the onus on Orient to get back into this tie, they will no doubt be looking to follow their recent blueprint of striking early. Despite suffering a frustrating evening against Southend a fortnight ago, the Londoners have bagged inside the first ten minutes during their last three League One games. Southend have conceded goals inside the first quarter of an hour of consecutive matches at Roots Hall too.

 

To Qualify

 

Given Southend's recent poor home form and heavily depleted squad, their League One opponents should have enough about them to turn this tie around. A commanding 3-0 away performance at Northampton earlier in the competition gives a clue of what the O's are capable of at Roots Hall.

 

Best Bet: Back Leyton Orient to qualify @ 3.1

Other Recommended Bet: Back time of first goal between 0-10 minutes @ 5.1

 

Bet HERE

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