L Orient v Walsall preview
Last Updated: December 28, 2012 1:38pm
Michael Symes: Set for late fitness test
Team news ahead of the League One clash between Leyton Orient and Walsall at the Matchroom Stadium.
Michael Symes is one beneficiary of Leyton Orient's recent postponements as he could be fit.
The striker was due to undergo a fitness test ahead of the festive fixture against Swindon but that fell foul of the wet weather just days after the match against Notts County bit the dust.
Having had an extra few days to recover from his hamstring problem, the 29-year-old is back in contention.
Kevin Lisbie recovered from a minor knock to start and score in the 3-1 loss to Scunthorpe, which ended the side's run of eight straight victories.
Boss Russell Slade should otherwise have a full complement of players to choose from as the O's seek to avoid being leapfrogged by the Saddlers in the League One table.
Dean Smith may see no reason to change a winning formula when he takes his resurgent Walsall side to former club Leyton Orient.
Smith watched his team end a punishing 16-match winless run with a 1-0 victory over Colchester last weekend and they duly followed that up with a stunning 4-2 success at MK Dons on Boxing Day.
Smith kept faith with an unchanged XI for both games and, with no new injury or suspension problems expected, will likely send out the same side again at Brisbane Road.
Midfielder Florent Cuvelier will continue to build up his match fitness after increased cameos against the U's and Dons following his return from a lengthy hamstring injury.
Midfielder Nicky Featherstone (ankle) will again be assessed ahead of the clash.
Saddlers boss Smith spent six years as a player with Orient, racking up over 300 appearances, before returning as youth coach and assistant manager, eventually parting ways in 2009 before linking up with Walsall.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
