Having earned a 5th round FA Cup replay with Arsenal, Leyton Orient are looking up. They go into the first of 3 London derbies in four games, against Brentford on Saturday, off the back of a club-record-equalling 14 unbeaten outings in the league and having suffered just two reversals in their last 23 in all competitions.
The east-Londoners found themselves in the drop zone at the start of the season and only clambered out on 19th December, as the club became embroiled in the Olympic Stadium saga; their fan-base threatened by West Ham’s proposed move to Stratford.
However, following a trip to Las Vegas awarded them by chairman Barry Hearne for their performance against Arsenal, they now find themselves in 7th place, a mere five points from the play-off positions and with games in hand on those above them to boot. If they win their three in hand over Huddersfield they would be a single point behind both them and an automatic promotion spot.
However, following a trip to Las Vegas awarded them by chairman Barry Hearne for their performance against Arsenal, they now find themselves in 7th place, a mere five points from the play-off positions and with games in hand on those above them to boot. If they win their three in hand over Huddersfield they would be a single point behind both them and an automatic promotion spot.
It is a remarkable story that has its roots set deep in the capital. Off-field events aside, the squad features three Spurs loanees who have impacted to varying degrees - England u-19 international Harry Kane receiving rave reviews for his forward play, keeper Tom Carroll having only made his debut last month, while Jose-Paul M’Poku scored a blistering long-range winner against Oldham last Saturday - and former Chelsea scholar Jimmy Smith returned from a hamstring injury to get the winner at Hartlepool on Tuesday night.
The squad also boasts former FA Youth Cup winning defenders Ben Chorley and Terrell Forbes, who won the competition with Arsenal in 2001 and West Ham in 1999 respectively, and whose presence on the training ground may well help to explain the O’s’ mettle that has merited four consecutive clean sheets since their 5-0 defeat at Emirates Stadium in that ill-fated replay.
A large proportion of their roster has learned its trade under the bright lights of London, the most intriguing of whom is surely veteran reserve right back Jason Crowe, who holds the unenviable record of having earned himself the fastest debut dismissal in English football history. Whilst playing for Arsenal in a League Cup tie against Birmingham in 1997, the future Crystal Palace, Brentford and Orient defender was sent off for a foul by referee Uriah Rennie after just 33 seconds of action at the start of extra-time at Highbury.
That kind of commitment has been displayed in abundance since the turn of the year at Brisbane Road, fortunately allied with the kind of composure required to succeed at this level, with just 11 goals conceded in League One since New Year’s Day. And with Alex Revell now on 14 for the season at the other end and Smith’s comeback capped by his ninth of an increasingly impressive campaign, upwardly mobile Orient appear well-equipped to potentially meet West Ham for more than just bragging rights in the Championship next season.
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