Match Preview: Leyton Orient

17 December 2021

Rovers look to make it four league wins in a row as we face Leyton Orient on Saturday afternoon in Sky Bet League Two.

It will be the second time the two sides have met this month after facing each other in the second round of the F.A Cup which was a day to forget for Micky Mellon’s side.

However, that result is by far in the past after some very impressive wins in recent weeks including last time out as we beat Exeter City to make it back-to-back away wins and look to continue the momentum on home soil.

As for the visitors, they come into the game off the back of a home defeat to Crawley Town, leaving them sitting one place and one point behind Rovers in the table.

Team News:

Callum McManaman will be missing due to suspension after receiving a red card in the clash with Exeter City last time out.

Nat Knight-Percival and Paul Glatzel are still ruled out with muscle injuries.

One to Watch: Harry Smith

The former Northampton Town and Macclesfield Town striker has been in fine scoring form in Sky Bet League Two this season, leading the way as the club’s joint top goal scorer with Aaron Drinnan with 13 goals.

After beginning his youth career with the likes of Brentford, Chelsea and Gillingham, he has also featured for Millwall, Swindon and Motherwell before joining the O’s.

The 26-year-old was Kenny Jackett’s sixth summer signing and has been a big plus to the Orient side, particularly with his height whilst standing at 6ft 5”.

He has also just recently won the Sky Bet League Two goal of the month award for November after a brilliant strike against Sutton United.

Manager: Kenny Jackett

One of the more experienced managers in Sky Bet League Two, Kenny Jackett knows exactly what it takes to win in the EFL.

After being a one-club man throughout his career, he made over 300 appearances for his home-town club Watford, whilst also appearing for his national side, Wales over a six year period.

Since retiring and entering football management, he has managed at a number of clubs including Millwall, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portsmouth which were his longest stints as his seven clubs overall.

He won promotion from League Two with Swansea in 2005 and then went on to win Millwall promotion for the first time in their history via the play-offs, to the championship.

He also took Millwall to the semi-final of the F.A Cup in 2013 before leaving the Den to join Wolves where he won an immediate promotion to the championship and set a new divisional points record of 103.

Match Coverage:

Live commentary is available via iFollow for this fixture with audio passes available by clicking here

You can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.
Twitter: @tranmererovers
Facebook: @trfcofficial
Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match reaction from Micky Mellon and a player will follow on our website and YouTube channel.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Leyton Orient

18 December 2021

A brilliant strike from Jay Spearing earned Tranmere Rovers three points to make it four league wins in a row against Kenny Jackett’s Leyton Orient.

Rovers began the game the better of the two sides, having the majority of the possession for the first 20 minutes at Prenton park.

But without any clear-cut chances, Orient grew into the game and had a few chances of their own.

Orient striker Harry Smith was causing problems with his arial ability as well as showing some good footwork in tight areas and won a free kick which was struck goalward by Dan Kemp but it was held well by Ross Doohan.

Kemp dragged an effort wide just minutes later but the shot failed to trouble the Rovers goalkeeper.

As Orient looked to end the half the stronger of the two sides, it was Rovers who forced either goalkeeper into a first real save as Josh Hawkes drove down the left-hand side before seeing a driven shot pushed away by Orient ‘keeper Lawrence Vigouroux.

The second half got off to a similar start to the first with Rovers having a lot of the possession without creating too many chances.

But the deadlock was broken on 58 minutes after good work from Josh Hawkes on the left allowed the winger to lay off Jay Spearing who’s thunderous strike found the top right corner and gave Rovers the lead at Prenton Park.

There was three bookings in the Orient defence as Josh Hawkes was causing huge problems for the Orient defence down the left hand-side.

Hawkes then forced a great save from Vigouroux as he cut in from the right-hand side and powerfully shot towards the far corner.

The visitors piled on the pressure towards the end of the game, creating a number of opportunities as the Rovers’ defence was put to the ultimate test.

First from a corner as centre-half Dan Happe headed over after rising highest from a corner, and then an outstanding effort from substitute Paul Smyth which forced a remarkable save from Rovers keeper Ross Doohan.

The final opportunity came in the 89^th minute as Orient striker Harry Smith had a free header six yards out from goal but his effort sailed wide of the near post.

After four minutes of added time, the referees final whistle was sounded and it was four wins in a row for Tranmere.

The result means Tranmere jump up to 5^th in the table and just a point outside the automatic promotion spots.

Tranmere team: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, Clarke, Davies, MacDonald, Hawkes (Merrie 90'), Spearing, O'Connor, Morris, Jolley (Watson 88'), Nevitt

Unused subs: Murphy, Duffy, Feeney, Maynard, Maguire