Leyton Orient and Colchester United Prepare for EFL Trophy Encounter

Two teams, Leyton Orient and Colchester United, are set to clash in the EFL Trophy‘s Southern Section Group E at the Gaughan Group Stadium. Both teams have experienced opposing fortunes at the onset of the 2024-25 EFL Trophy campaign. Leyton Orient, managed by Richie Wellens, fell to Arsenal‘s Under-21 in their first tournament match, while Colchester United emerged victorious against MK Dons with a 2-1 win.

The match against Arsenal’s Academy team was played in front of a 2,100-strong crowd on September 3, where Leyton Orient was defeated 2-1, despite an equalizing goal from an unnamed Orient defender. However, Arsenal regained their lead shortly after the break, leaving Leyton Orient without points in their opener.

Leyton Orient’s fortunes in League One improved following their EFL Trophy defeat, as they went undefeated in four consecutive league games. Yet, the team has struggled recently, suffering losses against Exeter City and Lincoln City, and have not won a home game since a 4-1 victory over Newport County in the EFL Cup.

On the opposite side, Colchester United showed resilience in their EFL Trophy opener. Despite trailing against MK Dons, goals from their side secured an important initial group stage victory. However, consistency has eluded Colchester in League Two, leaving them winless in their last three matches after a strong start.

Historically, Leyton Orient and Colchester United have had closely fought contests, with their last meetings during the 2022-23 League Two season, resulting in a draw and a win for Leyton Orient.

Team selection for Leyton Orient is affected by international call-ups, with two players, the young goalkeeper on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and a defender, joining their national teams. Colchester also faces player availability issues, with striker Callum Jones among those called up for international duty.

Potential lineup changes include goalkeeper Zach Hemming for Leyton Orient in place of the called-up loanee, and Josh Scully possibly starting for Colchester in the absence of Jones. Other injuries and tactical considerations may influence the final team selections for both clubs.