FanSided World Football
·24. November 2024
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Yahoo sportsFanSided World Football
·24. November 2024
With several games being postponed last weekend due to the November international break, League One action was back in full this weekend, including games for Tottenham Hotspur loanees.
There was action for Josh Keeley and Jamie Donley's Leyton Orient, as they faced Stevenage in an early kick off. Matthew Craig's Barnsley side were in action in the more traditional slot, as they welcomed Wigan Athletic to South Yorkshire.
As has often been the case with Orient lately, Keeley was named in the starting XI by manager Richie Wellens, with Donley unfortunately, once again, not being included in the match day squad for this one.
In any case, as the far as the game was concerned, certainly not one for the neutrals - however another welcomed clean sheet for Keeley, as neither side could find the breakthrough in a 0-0 draw. Whilst Orient need wins, this is not a terrible point on the road.
When it comes to Keeley himself, owing to the quietness of the game, he did not have much to do. The young keeper made one save, two high claims, 2/2 successful runs out, and two clearances. This is now six straight games in a row for the 21-year old, with five in the league - having been limited to just one Carabao Cup appearance previously.
Back in September, you would not have pictured the fortunes, or misfortunes, for each player being like this. Donley was the one getting regular minutes, whilst Keeley was not making the match day squad. For those unaware, you can only have five loanees in a match day squad, and Orient have more than five players on loan - so each match day, there is a player sacrificed.
This draw leaves Orient in 21st place in League Two, the highest relegation spot, with 15 points from 15 games. That said, they have games in hand on all of the three teams immediately above them, all of which they would overtake with a win. They also have two games in hand on Crawley, immediately above them, and are just one point below them - with superior goal difference.
As for Craig and Barnsley, they were condemned to a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Wigan, who would have been below Orient had Craig's side won. It was no fault of the young Spurs midfielder though, who was once again named an unused substitute for this one.
No doubt about it, this has become a very concerning situation. Craig has not started a game of any note since the 5th of October, and has totalled just 77 minutes of action since then. Up until then, he had played 784 minutes - in a similar amount of time.
This result leaves Barnsley in sixth place in League One, the final play-off spot, with 26 points from their 16 games so far.
Next up for Orient is a game at home to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening, with a 19:45 GMT kick off. The exact date and kick off time for Barnsley, who host Reading.