National League South side Boreham Wood are set to take on League One's Leyton Orient at Meadow Park on Sunday for the first round of the 2024-25 FA Cup.
The hosts are heading into this match without a win in their last three outings, while the visitors have won just one of their last eight matches across all competitions.
Match preview
© Imago
Boreham Wood were disappointingly relegated into the National League South for the first time since 2014-15 last season as they finished 21st in the National League, just one point behind 20th-placed York City.
The Wood have had a largely underwhelming opening to this campaign, residing in 11th place after 13 outings with 20 points, from five wins, five draws and three defeats.
They did have a fair start to the division, winning three and drawing one of their first four, but Boreham Wood followed that without a win in the next four, leading to the dismissal of Ross Jenkins.
Luke Garrard, who left the club following their relegation in May after nine years at the helm, rejoined following Jenkins's sacking, and he has had a largely positive return to the side.
The Wood have won five of their last eight matches, though they are now without a win in three consecutive fixtures heading into this one, recording two draws and one defeat.
Their biggest success at this stage of the season has undoubtedly come in the FA Cup, winning three qualification rounds to progress to the first round of the competition, beating Eastbourne Borough 1-0 in the second round, Larkhall Athletic 2-1 in the third round and Carshalton Athletic 4-0 in the fourth round.
Boreham Wood will now face their biggest challenge of the campaign to date, coming up against a Leyton Orient side that competes three divisions above them in League One.
The O's have rapidly ascended through the tiers of English football in recent years, winning the National League title in the 2018-19 season and the League Two title in 2022-23, positioning them in League One.
Richie Wellens, who has been in charge since March 2022, recorded an encouraging first year in League One last term, finishing 11th in the table with 65 points, just 11 behind sixth-placed Barnsley.
However, they have had an extremely challenging opening to this campaign, with the O's currently placed 20th in the standings with just 11 points from 13 games, with three wins, two draws and eight defeats.
They come into this one having triumphed in only one of their last eight fixtures, a 1-0 win against Rotherham United, and Wellens will be hoping an encounter with National League South's Boreham Wood could provide his side with the perfect chance to get back to winning ways.
Team News
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While Boreham Wood lost 2-1 to Eastbourne Borough in their last outing, Garrard is likely to be encouraged from the strong showing against the fourth-placed team in the league, meaning he could name a similar side here.
Erico Sousa scored for the third time in 13 league matches in that game, and the midfielder is likely to start from the left once again in this one.
As for Leyton Orient, Wellens could decide to name a strong lineup as he aims for a comfortable victory to boost the morale of his squad after a difficult run of results in recent matches.
Goals have been hard to come by for the O's so fat this season, and Daniel Agyei will be hoping to score just his fifth of the campaign with the striker likely to start.
Boreham Wood possible starting lineup:
Ashmore; Hare, Bush, Ilesanmi; Coxe, Whelan, Payne, Abdulmalik, Sousa; Appiah, Dixon
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Keeley; Ball, Beckles, Happe, Currie; Pratley, Brown; Kelman, Galbraith, O'Neill; Agyei
We say: Boreham Wood 1-3 Leyton Orient
The visitors are undoubtedly the favourites heading into this match, given they compete three divisions higher than their hosts, and we expect the O's to comfortably win this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
