The Game
Argyle v Leyton Orient. Home Park. Tuesday, 19 August. 7.45pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Leyton Orient, following their play-off final defeat last season, began this campaign with a 3-0 defeat away at Huddersfield Town.
Since then, they have had three consecutive home matches. Firstly, a league win, defeating Wigan Athletic 2-0. It was a bad day for former Pilgrims loanee Steven Sessegnon, who scored an own-goal and was later sent off, with Josh Koroma scoring Orient’s other goal.
There followed a Carabao Cup exit, losing 1-0 to Wycombe Wanderers with a last-ditch own goal going against them, and then a 2-2 draw with Stockport County on Saturday. Stockport were 2-0 up by half-time, but Orient fought back with an Aaron Connolly goal near the hour mark, then a late leveller scored by Ollie O’Neill.
The Gaffer
45-year-old head coach Richie Wellens was a midfielder throughout his playing days. The Manchester United academy graduate had spells across the EFL throughout his 18-year career. Having retired following a spell with Macclesfield in the National League, Wellens returned to his former club Oldham Athletic, to become a first-team coach.
Just two months later, after John Sheridan was sacked, Wellens became caretaker manager, eventually being taken on permanently and overseeing a year in charge at Boundary Park. Having been sacked following relegation, Wellens pitched up at Swindon Town a few months later. After consolidating during his first season, in his second Wellens led the Robins to the League Two title.
Another of his former clubs, Salford City, came calling the following season, and Wellens would leave Wiltshire to join them. During his four-and-a-half months with the Ammies, Wellens led Salford to the EFL Trophy but was sacked nine days later.
Next came a short spell at Doncaster Rovers, before being appointed head coach at Leyton Orient in March 2022. In his first full season, Wellens won League Two with the O’s, returning them to the third tier for the first time since 2015. In the two campaigns that have followed, he has achieved impressive top-half finishes against the odds.
The Squad
Aaron Connolly began his career with Brighton, having moved from Ireland in 2016. After scoring for fun whilst playing in the Seagulls’ under-23 side, Connolly received his first-team debut in August 2017. The young forward scored six times for Brighton over the next two seasons before loans followed at Middlesbrough, Venezia and Hull City. Connolly signed permanently for the latter, where he impressed during 2023/24, prompting a move to Sunderland. He spent just five months in the North East before arriving at Millwall permanently in January. Connolly left the Lions to join Leyton Orient in the summer following the expiry of his contract.
Lively winger Josh Koroma (above, right) began his career at Leyton Orient, making 106 senior appearances and scoring 20 goals after turning professional. Huddersfield signed the Sierra Leone international in 2019, sending him out on loan to Rotherham after six months. After returning to the Terriers, Koroma spent two further seasons in Yorkshire before another loan, this time at Portsmouth. Another season-and-a-half was spent at Huddersfield before a permanent departure this summer when the 26-year-old joined Leyton Orient.
6ft 6in centre-back Dan Happe came through the academy at Orient. In 2017, he signed professional terms and was sent immediately out on loan to non-league side Histon. After just a month, he was recalled and linked up with Orient’s first team, making his senior debut against Cambridge United in League Two. Since then, Happe has played over 200 times for Orient, helping the club win both the National League and League Two titles.
Previous Meetings
Argyle’s last two meetings with Orient have come in the Carabao Cup. In 2023, Argyle won 2-0 to advance from Round One but, three seasons earlier, Orient won a second-round tie, coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
The last league meeting was in 2019/20. Argyle won 4-0 at Home Park, goals from Joel Grant, Zak Rudden, Callum McFadzean and an own goal put the Greens four up by half-time. The away game was not played that season, as the campaign had been curtailed because of the COVID pandemic.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin with the pre-match show, which starts at 7.15pm, when Erin Black and Jemma Rose will bring you build-up to the game. Charlie Price will then bring you live commentary, alongside former Argyle forward Ian Stonebridge.
Match passes to watch this game are available outside of the UK & Ireland. Click here to purchase your Argyle TV match pass.
Sky Sports
This game will be broadcast on Sky Sports+.
