New and Old meet in the dugouts as Harrogate Town welcome Leyton Orient

There couldn’t be much more of a contrast in the two dugouts at the EnviroVent stadium on Tuesday evening as Harrogate Town meet Leyton Orient, pitting a more than familiar face against one whose staff may still be learning the name of.

Town boss Simon Weaver has overseen two promotions, rising from the National League North to League Two, and with nearly 13 years in the job is the EFL’s longest-serving manager.

Meanwhile, Orient manager Richie Wellens has only been in the hotseat with his new club for 13 days. As a marker of the merry-go-round that is the Football League, he’s now third bottom in the list for longest reigns with Steve Evans (Stevenage) and Phil Brown (Barrow) already beating him in that respect.

In the time that Weaver has been Harrogate manager, Wellens has played for Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Oldham Athletic, Shrewsbury Town, Salford City and Macclesfield Town. He’s also managed Oldham, Swindon Town, Salford, and Doncaster before making the move to Leyton Orient.

But, regardless of their previous history in the game, both men now have the same aim of securing mathematical safety for their sides in League Two as the campaign draws to a close.

Form

Ex-Manchester United youth product Wellens has enjoyed a three-game unbeaten run since he took over at Orient, who prior to his arrival went 14 games in all competitions without a win.

It’s fair to say that 41-year-old Wellens has steadied the ship in East London, drawing two before going onto claim a win in style last weekend at home to Rochdale. Coming back from 1-0 down early on, the O’s came out 3-1 victors and earned a first three points since December 7, 2021.

Sat 18^th in the League two table and nine points off the drop zone, Orient are likely already safe from fears of relegation given the woes of those below them and the fact that only two go down out of the Football League’s exit door. They do however need to put a few more points on the board to make mathematically sure though.

The same can be said for Harrogate, who are 16^th at the time of writing with four more points to their name than Orient.

Weaver’s men were plain sailing until the turn of the calendar year but have won just three of their 15 league games in 2022 so far, losing seven and drawing the other five. That poor record includes a run of no win in their last six outings.

However, the Sulphurites will be buoyed by their last-gasp 94^th minute equaliser at home to Walsall last time out. Ex-Orient striker Conor Wilkinson had put the visitors in front on the hour-mark, but 18-year-old Irish forward Calum Kavanagh – on loan from Middlesbrough – came off the bench to snatch a dramatic point for Harrogate.

Ones To Watch

Without wishing to put a curse on it, Tuesday night’s game promises to be a goal-fest given that both sides don’t struggle to put the ball in the back of the net but don’t often manage to keep it out at the other end.

Of Orient’s 36 League Two games so far this season, striker Harry Smith has played in all bar two, and has netted 12 times including one off the bench in Saturday’s win over Rochdale.

That goal was his first since a brace against Swindon Town on December 7, but Wellens side need more of the same if they’re to be successful in North Yorkshire.

At the other end, frontman Jack Muldoon must re-find his own goalscoring ability for Harrogate having notched 10 in 35 league appearances to date this in this campaign, but none since February 15.

The Sulphurites have scored a whopping 53 times in League Two this season but have conceded 58 which perhaps evidences where their problems lie.

Last Time Out

Back in August, Harrogate ran out 2-0 winners away at Orient then under the guidance of Kenny Jackett.

Striker Luke Armstrong got a double that day for Weaver’s men, and could return tonight having been suspended recently for picking up two yellow cards – and a subsequent red – in just two minutes away at Tranmere Rovers.

Kicking off at an earlier than usual time of 7:00pm, coverage of the game will be provided live on Twitter by Prost International reporter Ben Olawumi. You can follow him – @OlawumiJourno