There’s no doubt Leyton Orient’s top of the table clash with Stevenage on Saturday is their biggest game of the season to date.
However, it’s unfortunate it comes at the most inopportune moment as the O’s experience something of a rut – if such a thing is possible for a team sitting five points clear at the top of League Two.
Defensively, Richie Wellens’ side are still exceptional with the clean sheet against Barrow equalling a club record of eight consecutive home league shut-outs.
October’s defeat to Newport County marked the last time the O’s conceded at Brisbane Road, making it over 840 minutes without an opposition goal in E10.
But at the other end the goals have worryingly dried up with the side’s record over the past five games reading one goal for, one goal against.
Much to the delight of fans, the O’s have scored a number of unbelievable goals this season but you’d imagine Wellens will be searching for a more sustainable way of finding the back of the net.
So much of Orient’s play centres around feeding their electrifying wingers Paul Smyth and Theo Archibald, but if either are off their game or unavailable, as Archibald was last weekend, the side can look slightly one dimensional.
Therefore, the onus now shifts to the central players to step-up and provide greater creativity.
Both George Moncur and Charlie Kelman do selfless work for the team which feeds into Orient’s sublime defensive record while also providing moments of quality in key moments.
But with just 12 goal contributions between them in a combined 48 league games, Wellens will be looking for more from his regular number 9 and 10 as the side enter the final stretch of the season.
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The duo will be needed to break down a stubborn Stevenage defence who have conceded just 18 league goals this season and will be buoyed by playing their first home game since their memorable FA Cup victory over Aston Villa.
Similarly, Orient’s defensive record may be second to none but that record will be tested this weekend as they come up against a bruising Stevenage forward line.
It will be somewhat of a makeshift O’s backline, with just one of the ‘usual’ back four that has done so well this season available due to a long-term injury to Dan Happe and suspensions for Omar Beckles and Tom James.
You’d imagine the ever reliable Jordan Brown will slot in and do a job at right-back, but the O’s will face a real examination in the heart of their defence.
The one positive of Orient’s recent availability crisis in defence has been the return of forgotten man Adam Thompson, back after suffering multiple injuries during his two year stint at the club.
The 30-year-old has been thrust back into the first team picture, an opportunity which he has grasped with both hands – solid and steady in the 1-0 win over Doncaster, his first league start since the opening day.
Against Barrow his display was nothing short of immense as he picked up a deserved man of the match award thanks to a number of perfectly timed tackles and commanding headers.
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Despite Thompson’s positive displays, he, alongside whoever Wellens elects to partner him out of January loan signings Ed Turns and Jamie McCart, will be tested to their limits against Stevenage.
Barrow caused more problems from set-pieces than any side that has come to Brisbane Road this term, with only a couple of questionable refereeing decisions preventing the O’s from conceding.
And with all three available centre backs standing at just over six feet, the aerial battle could be crucial against a Steve Evans side that closer resembles something from the NBA than the EFL.
The game might not be season-defining in terms of promotion as both sides look well on their way to achieving two of the three automatic berths in League Two, although it might well set the tone for a race for first place where Orient will be dreaming of a second league title in five seasons.