Orient Preview..

“We have given the Orient supporters a huge chunk of our stadium (5800 seats) so it’s going to be a very different atmosphere to what we’re used to.” Alan Curbishley

I wasn’t at the Yeovil match last year, so I can’t even remember the last time there were almost 6,000 away supporters at the Valley.

I’ve been speaking to a few Orient fans this week, and a couple of them are season ticket holders who haven’t got a ticket because of the ridiculous way their club handled the arrangements for the match. General sale right from the start, no priority for loyal fans, and up to 40 tickets sold to each individual who requested them.

Crazy really when you think about it.

They took a similar number of fans to Fulham in the last round, so logic states that they would do the same against us in the next round.

So after apologising to their own fans for the mess they made after being given far more tickets than we were required to give, they then had the cheek to ask us for another 2,000..

The upshot of the whole mess is that there are bound to be a large number of Orient fans trying to purchase tickets on the day for home areas.

I spoke to the ticket office this afternoon and they said that there are still around 5,000 tickets still available for the match, so any of you who are planning to go down to the Valley and pay on the gate, I would suggest that you take your season ticket book with you just to be safe, I expect security will be tight on who tickets are sold to tomorrow.

Leave early to avoid disappointment as well.

As for the side, Rommedahl is out with a cracked rib sustained at Stamford Bridge last week, Murphy will obviously not be playing again (He was linked to Man City tonight as well), and Marcus Bent is cup tied.

I expect a pretty strong side tomorrow. Curbs has been talking all week about not taking the fixture lightly, and there will certainly be a very vocal away support.

We aren’t going to be outplayed by this side, but there is a definite chance that they are going to want it more than us. Lets just hope the players expect as tough a game as the majority of the fans do.

Cynic Athletic's Prediction - 2-1 Win (Bent, Ambrose, - Easton)