The two form teams to end the League One season go head-to-head in a two-legged play-off semi-final. The first of which will take place at Brisbane Road in East London at lunchtime on Saturday.
Leyton Orient won their last six league games to secure the fourth and final play-off spot. Whilst Saturday’s visitors, Stockport, won seven of their last eight to set up an enticing encounter against the O’s.
How Orient made the play-offs
Leyton Orient had somewhat of a polarising season, which started with four consecutive losses. That was before a run of eight wins in ten games around the turn of the year in which they only conceded two goals. This vaulted Orient into playoff contention, but it was tight around the middle of the table. Winning spells would be followed up with inopportune losses, and they entered the middle of March off the back of five straight defeats.
But then, when points were at a premium and the play-offs were in doubt, Richie Wellens’ side finished the season with six wins and 25 points for their last ten games to secure the sixth spot from Reading. Leyton Orient only drew six games all season, the fewest in League One, and this embodies their topsy-turvy spells of form throughout the campaign. But, ultimately, they are in the play-offs, which would have seemed inconceivable to most Orient fans after ten games in. Essentially, it is not how you start, it is how you finish! And the East London side certainly finished strongly.
Stockport’s recent rise
In 2022, just three years ago, Stockport County were in the National League, and now they have the chance to play Championship football next season. It has been an astonishing rise, partially masked by the concurrent historical ascension of Wrexham. They did in fact pip the Welsh outfit to the fifth-tier title that year.
The Hatters finished fourth in their first season back in League Two after an 11-year absence. Then last season, they again beat Wrexham to the league title with 92 total points. But yet, they have flown under the radar to a degree due to the exponential popularity of Ryan Reynolds’ takeover of Wrexham.
The team from Greater Manchester have been steady for the majority of the season. Talented youngster Louie Barry was firing in the first half of the season on loan from Aston Villa. The 21-year-old netted 15 times in just 23 games before being recalled by the Premier League side. He finished six goals shy of Orient’s talisman and Golden Boot winner Charlie Kelman despite only playing half the number of games.
It was a blow for Stockport to lose their key man midway through the season, but the likes of Kyle Wootton and Isaac Olaofe, who have notched 11 and 9 goals respectively, have stepped up since January to keep them in the play-off places.
Head-to-head
The away team won both times when Leyton Orient and Stockport County clashed this season. Orient won emphatically at Edgeley Park in September by four goals to one. But County got their revenge at Brisbane Road by coming out on top one-nil in February.
The Home Advantage
With Leyton Orient at home in the first leg, Wellens will feel it is imperative to gain an early advantage. A lead after the first leg would put the O’s in good stead to defend a lead in the second matchup on Wednesday, but neither team are renowned for their defensive playstyle.
This suggests that we could see some goals in both games, despite the cagey affairs that are typically predominant in the EFL play-offs. On the other hand, if Stockport can somehow snatch a win in the Capital on Saturday, then they will feel that they have one foot in the final already. But Orient are no pushover at home when the fans are behind them, with even Pep Guardiola denoting the tough atmosphere for a visiting side in East London earlier on this year after his side’s FA Cup tie against the O’s.
Similarly, Stockport have lost just three times all season, with Leyton Orient, of course, being one of the occasions. This implies that this two-legged affair should go down to the wire between two teams in peak form and prepared to risk it all for a place in the League One play-off final at Wembley, with a Championship spot on the line.
Key Players
The aforementioned Charlie Kelman has been crucial to Orient’s play-off surge. The 23-year-old on loan from Queens Park Rangers was the league’s most prolific this season with 21 goals, and only one of those came from the spot. This has been the American’s second loan spell in E10, but he has become the fan favourite at Leyton Orient in recent times.
Loan players have also been instrumental to Orient’s success on the pitch, with Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley, both from Spurs, excelling under Richie Wellens. Irishman Keeley has kept 16 clean sheets in between the sticks for Orient, and was the hero for his side’s FA Cup turnaround against Oldham, where he scored a headed equaliser deep into injury time.
Donley was named Leyton Orient’s young player of the season earlier this week and has shone in attacking midfield with his vision and finishing, culminating in eight goals and ten assists for the campaign.
For Dave Challinor’s side, the experienced Oliver Norwood has been a stalwart in the middle of the pitch throughout the season. The 34-year-old, who appeared over 250 times for Sheffield United, has started 32 games for the Hatters this season, scoring three with the same number of assists. But it is his ability to dictate play when his side is in possession that makes him one of the first names on the team sheet. If Orient’s 40-year-old Darren Pratley plays on Saturday, it could be an intriguing chess match in midfield between two EFL veterans.
Team News
The hosts were without left-back Jack Currie for the one-nil victory over Wycombe a fortnight ago, but he came on for the last ten minutes against Huddersfield last week. He is trending back towards being in the starting XI, which will give Orient a boost defensively. Wellens has opted for a back five at some points this season, so could revert back to a more defensive shape, which would push the wing-backs high up the pitch in an attempt to cause the visitors problems out wide.
County captain Lewis Bate is still out injured and has not appeared since the first of April. Meaning the Stockport side could remain unchanged from their comeback victory over Wycombe Wanderers on the final day. The partnership of Olaofe and Wootton up top for the away side could continue to cause havoc to back lines, with their 30 combined goal involvements this season.
What the winner faces
Wycombe and Charlton face off in the other semi-final, meaning the team that goes on to secure promotion will have elevated their level of play to a supreme standard. Because, as we know, anyone can win the play-offs in any manner possible. This year is likely to be no different.
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