Leyton Orient host Blackpool at Brisbane Road on 17 October 2026. Orient sit 12th with 11 points from nine games while Blackpool occupy 18th after eight, winless in five. Home advantage and a more settled defensive shape favour the hosts.
Orient come in off a 0-0 draw at Bradford City on 10 October, a result that followed a mixed run of D L W L L. The clean sheet at Valley Parade was no accident, Wellens has clearly been drilling the defensive shape and the Bradford game was the first sign it is clicking. Blackpool lost 0-1 at Cambridge United the same weekend and now carry five consecutive league games without a win, a run of L L D L L.
Richie Wellens, who took over from Kenny Jackett in March 2022, is without Oliver Dobin (shoulder) and Somto Boniface (knee), which puts more on Isaac Hayden to anchor midfield and gives Dane Scarlett a bigger role up front. Ian Evatt, appointed in October 2025 after replacing Steve Bruce, is missing four defenders through injury, Josh Earl, Niall Ennis, Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe and it shows in how uncertain Blackpool look when trying to build from the back.
Orient are likely to line up in something close to a 3-4-3, with the wide midfielders pushing forward to support Scarlett and Jaze Kabia. Hayden's role as midfield anchor, more important now with two squad members out, keeps the two attacking midfielders from chasing back into their own half. Blackpool lean on a possession based 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-3-2 with Josh Bowler prominent in attack but with four defenders missing they are struggling to build with any composure and Orient's press will target those hurried clearances.
Hayden versus George Honeyman should shape the tempo of the match. Honeyman is back after his red card was overturned and will look to get on the ball and drive play forward, though Hayden should limit how much space he finds. Scarlett's movement against a depleted back line is the more direct threat and Orient's best moments will likely come from winning loose balls in the final third rather than sustained build up play.
Orient beat Blackpool 3-0 in November 2024 and 1-2 in March 2025, with a 1-1 draw in November 2025 sandwiched around a 1-0 Blackpool win in April 2026. Without Horsfall and Ihiekwe, Orient's deliveries into the box will face fewer bodies in the air than usual and Orient showed enough improved aerial work in the Bradford draw to suggest that advantage will carry at home. Bowler and Tom Bloxham will look to threaten on the break and Honeyman gives Blackpool a realistic route to goal on the counter if Orient press too high.
Orient to win 2-1. Scarlett and Kabia should find openings against a back line missing four regulars and Hayden's screening lets Orient push forward without excessive risk. Losing four defenders at once has left Blackpool structurally fragile and five games without a win tells the same story. Their goal is probably coming on the break but it is hard to see them leaving Brisbane Road with anything more.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
