Match Previews

Match Preview | Leyton Orient v Wanderers

9th August 2024

The start of the new season is here with Wanderers getting underway at the Gaughan Group Stadium.

Ian Evatt's side travel to Leyton Orient for a 5:30pm kick-off on Saturday evening, looking to make a postive start to their League One campaign.

With the signings of three players in the last 48 hours in the form of Jay Matete, Jordi Osei-Tutu and John McAtee, the mood is positive heading into this weekend's opener.

Wanderers will face an Orient side starting their second season back in the third tier, who will be looking to build upon their solid top half finish last time out.

Manager quotes

Wanderers' boss Ian Evatt: "Pre-season has been largely positive. The historical injuries from last season and the recruitment window being a tad slow has made things difficult but the games we've had have been a great learning curve, and we've worked extremely hard on some details that we need to implement for the season.

"Pre-season is always a key time as it's the only time we get consistent grass time and learning opportunities to get into the players about structures and how we do things. The players have worked great and have been very competitive in all the fixtures and we're ready to go.

"But we are under no illusions that we are judged on Saturday and our league performances and not on how we've done in pre-season. We need to be ready for that.

"Richie (Wellens) will probably say the same as I am here, that we both know each other well and we know what to expect. It's a really difficult game, as shown last season and I don't think we've had a great record there whilst I have been here, so we need to improve that.

"His teams are always well organised and have a real desire - like Richie as a player - so we know it's a tough start. But we're in a pretty good place and we're looking forward to the game."

Richie Wellens, Orient boss, told their official Youtube channel: "It's a brilliant game to look forward to.

"It's exciting and it's going to one of the best League One seasons there has ever been and it's a really big club for us to kick-off at home.

"Bolton are an established club, always finishing around the top of this league and have a consistent squad, but the first game is up to the players to take our game-plan forward.

"They are one of the toughest challenges in this division and I know they're going to be just as strong this season."

Team news

Ian Evatt has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's season opener at the Gaughan Group Stadium.

A number of Evatt's first-team squad gained vital minutes in a B Team friendly earlier this week against Stoke City U21s, with Luke Southwood, Jack Iredale, George Johnston, Chris Forino, Will Forrester, Aaron Morley, Dan Nlundulu and Dion Charles all gaining vital minutes ahead of the new season.

The arrival of trio Jay Matete, Jordi Osei-Tutu and John McAtee this week have helped to add further depth and quality to Evatt's squad and have linked up with their teammates already ahead of this weekend.

For Orient, they have also been active in the transfer market, with astute business across the board as they look to build on a positive end to last season.

With the likes of Lewis Warrington and Sonny Perkins arriving with decent pedigrees from Everton and Leeds respectively, as well as bringing in League One experience in the form of Sean Clare and the returning Charlie Kelman, Richie Wellens' side will provide a stern test for Wanderers on the opening day.

Form guide

Wanderers head into this first league game on the back of a comprehensive 3-0 win over Port Vale to round off a largely positive pre-season.

Ian Evatt's men had two tightly contested games at the Toughsheet Community Stadium against Stoke City of the Championship, with a 1-1 draw against Italian giants Fiorentina preceding that four days earlier.

Tests against West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough proved vital, with victory over Chorley FC rounding off the fixtures.

For tomorrow's hosts, pre-season has also proved positive, with the Os having enjoyed wins over Hornchurch, Hearts, St Albans City and Dagenham and Redbridge.