FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 11, 2025 at 6pm UK

Brisbane Road

Leyton Orient vs Derby

Match preview

After a season of consolidation in the third tier of English football following their title-winning campaign in 2022-23, Leyton Orient are threatening to challenge the big boys for promotion to the Championship, a huge achievement for a club that was plying their trade in the National League as recently as 2019.

The O's burst into life over the festive period, winning five straight League One games after a dismal goalless draw with relegation candidates Burton Albion on December 14, and the Londoners have now gone 10 games unbeaten in all competitions.

A one-goal victory over Gareth Ainsworth's Shrewsbury Town on 4 January lifted Leyton Orient up to eighth in the League One table at the midway point of the season, just four points behind Reading, who currently occupy the play-off places.

Despite being drawn against Championship opposition in the third round, the O's should be relatively confident of progressing given their impressive recent form at the Gaughan Group Stadium, where Richie Wellens' men are unbeaten in six matches, five of which have been wins.

However, Leyton Orient will have to rise to the challenge of the second tier on Saturday afternoon, having faced non-league sides in the first and second rounds of this year's competition, with the League One side narrowly edging out Boreham Wood and Oldham Athletic.

Derby travel to the capital this weekend in need of a break from the stresses and strains of Championship football, as the East Midlands outfit have lost three consecutive games to end the festive period, leaving the newly promoted side in a relegation battle.

The latest of these negative results came at Bristol City's West Country base last Saturday, when a first-half strike from centre-back Luke McNally was enough to see off the visiting Rams, who looked exhausted with a number of injuries and illnesses in their camp.

With just three points from their last five games in the second tier, Derby have slipped to 18th in the Championship table ahead of this weekend's FA Cup tie, with Paul Warne's side just four points clear of Hull City in the highest of the relegation places.

The Rams are back on the road after two away defeats in the Championship and have struggled for regular results away from Pride Park this season, winning just one of their 14 league games so far, while they also lost at League Two Barrow in the EFL Cup in August.

Having won the FA Cup at the end of the 1945-46 season, Derby have a pedigree in the competition as they seek an unlikely success in 2025, although Warne's men have failed to impress in recent years, with their progress halted by fourth-tier Crewe Alexandra in the first round last season.

Recent Performance

Leyton Orient FA Cup form:WW

Leyton Orient form (all competitions):DWWWWW

Derby County form (all competitions):WLWLLL

Team News

After finding the back of the net against Shrewsbury last time out, Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jamie Donley will be desperate to make an impact for Leyton Orient in the FA Cup this weekend.

Another temporary signing has also been doing the business for the O's at the top end of the pitch this term, with Charlie Kelman having scored seven goals in the Third Division and will be looking to make an impact against the Championship visitors.

Derby will be without star centre-back Eiran Cashin, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since mid-December.

The Rams' options at the back are further limited by the absence of Ryan Nyambe, who picked up a knee problem in October.

Warne is likely to rotate his side slightly after a gruelling festive schedule, so expect youngsters such as Tawanda Chirewa and Dajaune Brown to get minutes in the capital.

Possible starting lineup

Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:

Keeley; Galbraith, Beckles, Simpson, Currie; Pratley, Brown, Perkins, Donley, Jaiyesimi; Kelman

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Vickers; Wilson, Nelson, Phillips, Forsyth; Thompson, Goudmijn, Osborn, Chirewa, Brown; Collins