‘Meeting the opposition’ – Leyton Orient F.C
On Saturday, Tranmere will travel to London as they face Leyton Orient. This league encounter will see a team sitting comfortably mid table play against a side who are aiming for promotion. However, this game may prove to be somewhat of a banana skin for Keith Hill’s men as Rovers lost when they faced Embleton’s men last October. With that in mind, I placed questions towards a supporter of the hosts Elliott Christy to find out about the O’s on and off pitch positions going into the game whilst also getting his pre-match predictions and thoughts.
How long have you been an Orient fan? How did you first come across the club?
I have supported them all of my life, went to my first game when I wasn’t even a year old and since then it’s all I’ve ever known. In truth, I had no choice of who to support as my dad and grandad are both Orient fans and we’ve all been going home and away all over the country all our lives.
It seems like you’ve watched a fair few games then, which means that you must’ve seen some very high and low points. What are some of your highlights as an O’s fan?
There have been plenty of ups and downs over the years. The worst time being between 2014 and 2017 when we were under incredibly awful ownership in Francesco Beccheti, who nearly ran us into administration and took us from League One to the National League. I’d have to say the greatest high was winning the National League under Justin Edinburgh, that was a great season with some great away days, which made it all that bit sadder when he passed away that summer.
Random fact about the club?
We are the only club to win every game in a cup competition without winning it (Carabao cup this season).
What are your thoughts on the campaign so far? What were they going into the season and what are they now?
It’s been a very up and down season, everyone came into the campaign optimistic for a playoff spot and we looked on course to claim one until the new year where our form took a drastic change for the worse and now we look out of the race.
Ross Embleton was appointed gaffer last year, thoughts on him?
Ross is a very likeable character, he loves the club but recent performances and his unwillingness to change the formation has put a doubt in many fans’ minds whether he is the right man to take us forward and a loss this weekend could put a lot of pressure on him.
Nigel Travis and Kent Teague are the owners of Orient, thoughts on them?
They’re both fantastic owners, who always look to take us to the next step and I wouldn’t be surprised to see us being back to a stable League One club in the next couple of years.
The O’s have the quality to pose a fair few questions for the visiting defence this weekend, who are the players to keep an eye out for?
Our main danger men are Nick Freeman, carries the ball so well and when he sets off there are not many players who can tackle him, Danny Johnson always a threat in front of goal and Lawrence Vigoroux, in my opinion the best goalkeeper in the league.
If I push you to give a score prediction?
A 1-1 draw, with us conceding first and then getting 1 back.
So you think Tranmere have the quality to get a point at the Breyer Group Stadium on Saturday, what are your thoughts on the club as a whole?
Tranmere are a good club, big clubs in this division take good numbers away, very similar to ourselves in that aspect, would be good to see us both back in League One soon like a couple of years back.
In the Winter transfer window, Embleton signed four players. Although they are yet to win a game with you, what are your thoughts on them?
January’s transfer window came at a good time for us and the players we brought in definitely have strengthened the squad especially Adam Thompson and Nick Freeman, However none of our new signings have yet to win a game with us.
Danny Johnson played for Orient’s counterparts in 2014, a year which saw Tranmere being relegated to the National League for the first time. Is he a decent forward for your club?
Danny Johnson has been unreal for us this season, obviously Tranmere were on the receiving end of one of his many goals, however after an injury in December set him back a month, he’s still getting back into the groove of things, so he’s been a bit rusty in recent weeks.
- Danny Johnson played for Tranmere in 2014. He now plays for Leyton Orient and scored in the reverse fixture in October. Rovers defence will be kept on their toes if he is to play this weekend.
I would like to thank Elliott for his time answering the questions that I placed towards him. This game is one in which both sets of supporters and neutrals should be excited for. I hope that readers enjoyed this Q+A.
Thank you very much for reading,
Stay safe,
Ethan Hoijord