Grecians out to break Leyton Orient’s O streak

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday night as they face Leyton Orient under the lights at St James Park at 7:45pm.

City will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Blackpool, while the O’s arrive in red-hot form, unbeaten in their last 11 games and sitting seventh in League One.

Manager Gary Caldwell emphasised the need for focus and resilience against a tough opponent. "Every League One game is difficult, and you have to be 100 percent prepared, focused, and ready for that challenge," he said. "The key is to be more resilient, have a better foundation defensively to give us a chance to win. We’ve been scoring goals, and when we score, the possession game needs to be better to control the match."

Reflecting on what City can learn from Saturday’s defeat, Caldwell added, "We can learn about how we win the ball back when we lose it and to be much quicker around the ball. Too many times on Saturday, we lost the ball and were far too open. When we play well, we are compact in and out of possession, so we have to get back to that and keeping clean sheets."

Defender Jack McMillan echoed his manager’s sentiments, stressing the importance of maintaining focus and capitalising on home advantage. "We are a positive group of lads, and our full focus is on the game," said McMillan. "Orient are in good form at the moment; they keep clean sheets and win one or two-nil. We have to focus on ourselves and what we can do and hopefully pick up the three points."

McMillan also praised the unwavering support of the Exeter faithful, noting how their energy has a tangible impact on the team. "They are there every week for us," he said. "I’ve been at other clubs where you go 3-0 down, and many have left, but it’s the complete opposite here. They helped us come back against Crawley Town, and they’ve continued to support us through hard times. We appreciate that as players."

Earlier in the season, Amani Richard’s first professional goal secured a 1-0 win over Orient, and the Grecians will hope for a similar result this time around. With both teams battling for points and pride, Tuesday night promises an exciting clash under the lights.

So, grab your scarves, bring the noise, and let’s help the Grecians clip Orient’s wings under the lights at St James Park!