Time for City to dig for victory

From the archive, first published Tuesday 5th Dec 2006.

Colin Todd has told City to play it for keeps tonight.

He wants his side to keep their heads and keep the ball better when they face the division's bottom side.

After picking up only two points from the last 21, City's search for a league win is becoming critical.

Throw in a run of three games without a goal and an evening trip to the London club currently propping up the rest promises to be a minefield.

But Todd, who plans to make changes, believes his players have it in them to pass the test of character and halt the worrying slump.

He said: "It's a game we don't want to miss out on. We can't afford to get dragged into a position where we don't want to be.

"We go into every game with the belief that we're good enough but it's how we show it. Words are all right but it's how we dig deep that matters.

"Orient have hit a little bit of form, particularly at home. We know what sides coming up are about and we've seen it at Cheltenham.

"They are going to have a real go, and for the first 20 minutes we've got to be right and not give them anything to hang their hat on. We have to be strong enough to win the battles.

"Hopefully after that we can look to exploit the weaknesses in their side and we must get a real urgency in our play and the way we move the ball."

City have not scored since Crewe defender Darren Kempson put through his own net in the FA Cup first round on November 11 - a drought stretching 283 minutes. Dean Windass is still suspended but David Graham is available and expected to partner Eddie Johnson up front.

But Todd insists the service to the frontmen has got to be better so they are not left isolated.

The City boss added: "Going back to September, we always looked capable of scoring goals. That's not the case currently and there are reasons for it.

"We aren't keeping the ball long enough; we're not raiding down the flanks as well as we can and we're not putting as many crosses into the box as we should. We might get one attack that peters out but then we lose it again - we must keep the ball better.

"It's so important that we sustain possession and try to vary it more. It's all about the little things that we have stopped doing.

"This game is not just the start of a hectic week but a hectic month going right through to January. That's why we must find that little bit of spark and belief that we can push on again."

Nathan Doyle's one-match ban is likely to mean a recall at right back for Richard Edghill, who has not featured since suffering a hip injury against Brighton a month ago.

It will be the first time City have faced Leyton Orient since a 0-0 draw 12 years ago.

City's last success at Brisbane Road was in September 1982. They have not won in seven visits since.

But for those looking for an omen, City went to the bottom club Bristol City on the corresponding Tuesday a year ago and won 1-0.

THE OPPOSITION

On-loan Southend midfielder Luke Guttridge should finally make his Leyton Orient debut after a fortnight of waiting.

The tiny central midfielder has been recruited to add some bite to the struggling O's but is yet to get on the pitch. What should have been his first game at Northampton was waterlogged and his Championship employers would not allow him to play in the FA Cup against Torquay at the weekend.

Guttridge, who scored at Valley Parade for Southend last season, is itching to perform for Martin Ling's side after falling out of favour at Roots Hall.

He said: "A few things have happened towards the end at Southend and I was disappointed with how it's turned out. Southend have tried to put out the reason for my loan as being I wasn't getting games there but it's more of a personal issue.

"But you always play better football with a smile on your face and I intend to enjoy my time with Orient."

Guttridge is set to replace Jason Demetriou in the only expected change from the Torquay cup tie. Justin Miller and Donny Barnard are still struggling with injuries.

Young striker James Walker, who arrived from Charlton at the same time as Guttridge, is likely to be on the bench.

Orient, owned by Matchroom supremo Barry Hearn, have found life tough since winning promotion. But 13 of their 15 points have come at home, where they have lost only two out of nine, and they held high-flying Yeovil to a goalless draw last time out.