Leyton Orient v Southend: Slade's boys to assume first-leg lead

 

Michael Lintorn can't see beyond Leyton Orient in the first leg of their Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern final against Southend...

 

Leyton Orient v Southend, Tuesday 19:45, Sky Sports 1

 

The northern regional final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy between Coventry and Crewe is a slither more glamorous, but that occasion lacks the significance of the  southern two-legger between Leyton Orient and Southend.

 

Whereas Coventry's priority is a Championship return and Crewe visited Wembley for a play-off final just nine months ago, Leyton Orient and Southend - who lost two  finals in the last decade - have plenty of trophy cabinet space to fill.

 

Orient didn't concede in their three ties to reach this stage, with the highest-ranked team they disposed of being League One rivals Yeovil in east London.

 

Southend vanquished AFC Wimbledon, Dagenham and - most impressively - Brentford at home before a penalty shootout success at Oxford, juggling that progress with a  promotion push. History isn't against them as a League Two club either, with nine making the final in the past decade.

 

Match odds: Leyton Orient 2.14, Southend 3.85, The Draw 3.6

 

Orient possess home and divisional advantage, and have only lost once in 90 minutes in nine cup ties this season - to Champions League chasing Everton.

 

Russell Slade's men have lost just one of their last nine as hosts in regulation time, winning five, whereas Southend's sole away victory in five was achieved at  faltering Chesterfield, this competition's holders.

 

The O's are unbeaten in four and have scuppered some strong (albeit not quite in peak form) sides recently, defeating Notts County and Stevenage and holding Brentford  and Swindon. It would be rude not to snap up odds above evens on them overcoming a team from a lower division at home.

 

To score

 

David Mooney has been a cup hero for Leyton Orient this season with seven goals in his last seven games, including three in the last two rounds of the JPT, and is 2.92 to score at any time.

 

The 28-year-old, one of Reading's many Irish attacking imports, was rested at the weekend but will almost certainly return having started 19 of Orient's previous 20  matches.

 

Best Bet: Back Leyton Orient to win @ 2.14

Other Recommended Bet: Back David Mooney to score @ 2.92

 

Bet HERE

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