OPPOSITION REPORT: Leyton Orient

HE may have learned his trade in Italy but Fabio Liverani favours a classic English 4-4-2 when setting up his Orient side.

Italians have a history of being resolute at the back but that has been far from the case for the O’s this term, with only five teams conceding more in League One.

Liverani does still give his team a licence to attack, proven by the fact they have the best goal difference in the bottom seven.

Widemen Ryan Hedges and Dean Cox will be free to get forward as they please and will be keen to provide Chris Dagnall with plenty of chances, as the O’s top scorer has not found the net in his last 10 games.

Likely line-up

A man in form: Alex Cisak

IT SAYS a lot about Leyton Orient’s season that their standout player in recent weeks has been goalkeeper Alex Cisak.

The on-loan stopper has been outstanding since arriving at Brisbane Road in October on a temporary basis from Burnley.

In fact, it is largely down to Cisak’s heroics that Orient are still in with a chance of survival, no less than in their last outing at Sheffield United.

The 25-year-old pulled off a string of fine saves to deny the Blades and was named man of the match in the 1-1 draw, a result which ensured the O’s have something to play for at the County Ground this weekend.

That dazzling performance came just a week after shipping six goals against MK Dons, with Orient’s shaky back-line to blame for that, rather than a bad day for their keeper.

The Treatment Room

ALTHOUGH Leyton Orient may be in the minority when it comes to League One clubs being able to boast Italy internationals in their ranks, the O’s will not be able to call on theirs against Swindon Town.

Ten-cap full-back Andrea Dossena joined Orient on a free from Sunderland in November and unsurprisingly slotted straight into the XI.

However, he has been forced to sit out the last two games with a hamstring problem and will be unable to aid the fight for survival after boss Fabio Liverani confirmed his season was over.

That is also the case for veteran forward Darius Henderson, who has been a valuable addition to the Orient squad after arriving on a free from Nottingham Forest. The 33-year-old has chipped in with plenty of vital goals but will sit out the trip to Swindon.

Another man out is defender Gary Sawyer. He has not played since the end of March and is already focussed on a summer of rehabilitation after suffering a calf tear.

Form Guide

Sat, Apr 11

Skybet League 1

1-1 draw v Crewe (A)

Tues, Apr 14

Skybet League 1

1-0 LOSS v Doncaster (H)

Sat, Apr 18

Skybet league 1

6-1 loss v MK Dons (A)

Tues, Apr 21

Skybet League 1

1-0 loss v Rochdale (A)

Sat, Apr 25

Skybet league 1

1-1 draw v Sheff Utd (H)

Goalscorers

Chris Dagnall: 10

David Mooney: 9

Darius Henderson: 8

The stat

In their 82 previous meetings, Town and Leyton Orient have only met once before in May, 1947. Swindon won 2-0 at the County Ground.