Leyton Orient Match Report

Leyton Orient vs Burton Albion

2026-05-02 Orient perspective 1546 match-play events 168 reportable incidents Expected-goals feed merged. xG coverage: 27/27 shots; xGOT coverage: 27/27 shots. Signed passing threat proxy ยท v2

Match Control Board

Passes372Opp 308
Pass Completion66%Opp 60%
Progressive Passes61Opp 57
Final Third Entries23Opp 27
Box Entries13Opp 8
Shots13Opp 14
xG1.35Opp 2.99
xGOT1.31Opp 2.78
High Regains17Opp 9

Performance Verdict

Reality checkMixed performance with clear tactical faults

There were usable passages, but enough structural warnings showed up to make the video review specific.

bad signalMidfield did not join the game up

The event profile points to a gap between defence and attack. Possession had to travel too far before it became pressure, and central progression was not reliable enough.

Evidence
Final-third entries 23 vs 27; line breaks 8 vs 14; average event height 46.0 vs 41.4.
Video Check
Freeze possessions after centre-back passes into midfield: was anyone receiving on the half-turn, or were midfielders hiding behind cover shadows?
poor signalBuild-up became hesitant, then hopeful

The ball was either recycled without enough progression or sent long without enough success. That is how defenders start playing anxious football.

Evidence
49% of completed deep passes were low-progression; 69 of 109 long/direct attempts failed.
Video Check
Clip every deep possession of four or more passes and every failed long exit. Separate bad pass choice from no midfield option.
poor signalThe press was effort without punishment

Orient did win balls high, but the next action was not clean enough. Pressing only changes matches when the regain becomes a chance or territorial lock.

Evidence
High regains became useful attacks 2/17 times (12%).
Video Check
Review the first two touches after every high regain. The coaching question is support angle and first-pass quality, not effort.
bad signalDefending was clumsy, not just busy

The volume and shot quality against point to repeated emergency defending. That is different from a controlled low block absorbing harmless territory.

Evidence
Conceded 14 shots, 2.99 xG and 2.78 xGOT.
Video Check
Clip every opposition shot and tag the source: failed clearance, second ball, foul/set piece, runner lost or midfield screen missing.

Bottom-Line Pattern Board

warning signalRepeated phases need a defensive-shape review

The event profile flagged low-block/back-five review phases at 16-30, 31-45, 61-75.

Bottom line
This does not prove Orient changed formation; it says enough actions came from deep/wide defensive zones to justify freezing the video and counting the last line.
Clip check
Freeze the first defensive possession in each phase and count the last line plus wide midfield recovery positions.
warning signalWide territory is not enough by itself

Wide entries became box/shot sequences at 28%; central entries did so at 83%.

Bottom line
This is the classic false comfort: Orient get up the side of the pitch, but without central occupation or cutback access the attack stalls.
Clip check
Review whether the far-side winger, 10 and nearest 8 arrive in time when the ball reaches the wide player.
warning signalThe press needs a cleaner first pass

High regains became a shot, box entry or final-third entry on 2/17 occasions.

Bottom line
The first action after the regain is the coaching point; effort is only valuable if the next pass punishes the opponent.
Clip check
Clip the first two actions after each high regain: support distance, body shape and runner timing decide whether the press pays off.
warning signalInitial entries were contained, but defending still leaked shots

Only 8/33 pass entries became immediate danger, but the opposition still produced 14 shots and 2.99 xG.

Bottom line
The damage likely came after the first contact: second balls, set plays, fouls, failed clearances or loose marking after the initial entry.
Clip check
Review the first Orient action after the entry: clear contact, forced backwards pass, or only passive pressure.
positive signalLine breaks are the route to real attacks

When Orient broke a central line, the next sequence reached the box or produced a shot on 4/8 occasions.

Bottom line
Protect the players who can receive and pass through traffic; this is where possession becomes more than territory.
Clip check
Check the third-man support around the receiver: was the runner close enough and was the next pass available?

Trigger Outcome Evidence

WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WHAT CAME NEXT?Orient useful / first contactOpp switchOpp dangerCentral line breaksample 850%positive rate40Wide final-third entrysample 1828%positive rate50Central final-third entrysample 683%positive rate50High regainsample 1712%positive rate20Opp final-third entrysample 3324%danger rate198

This moves the report from "events happened here" to "when this trigger occurred, this was the next useful or dangerous outcome". It is the evidence board for repeatable coaching points.

Style Shift By Phase

WHERE DID ORIENT ACT BY PHASE?Orient event heightOrient defensive action height0-15High press phasedeep actors 7 | wide deep 6 | direct 24%16-30Back-five/low-block reviewdeep actors 9 | wide deep 6 | direct 57%31-45Back-five/low-block reviewdeep actors 8 | wide deep 4 | direct 32%46-60Balanced phasedeep actors 7 | wide deep 3 | direct 28%61-75Back-five/low-block reviewdeep actors 9 | wide deep 3 | direct 22%76-90+High press phasedeep actors 7 | wide deep 5 | direct 27%OWN GOALOPP GOAL

This flags whether Orient's event profile became deeper, more direct, or more defensively crowded by phase. It is a formation clue, not proof; the clip check confirms the actual shape.

Phase Style Audit

PhaseOrient HeightOpp HeightDef. HeightDeep ActorsWide DeepDirect PassesHigh RegainsRead
0-1546.340.741.27624%3High press phase
16-3040.349.332.39657%2Back-five/low-block review
31-4546.639.033.88432%3Back-five/low-block review
46-6047.044.138.17328%2Balanced phase
61-7544.940.433.49322%3Back-five/low-block review
76-90+48.534.339.17527%4High press phase

Use this table for claims such as "Orient dropped deeper", "the press faded", or "the team stopped trusting build-up". A back-five read requires video confirmation, but the event signature can tell us where to look.

Control Diagnostics

Threat Balance-5.30Opp: -14.8 | Orient median: -0.5 (61) | Below desired baseline.

The opposition had the higher net positional passing value after deductions. Inspect the contributions from completed moves and unsuccessful passes before attributing the difference to tactical control.

Line Breaks-6Opp: +14 | Orient median: -3 (61) | Below desired baseline.

Orient did not win the line-break battle. Review bravery and timing around the first central receiver.

Press Payoff2/17Opp: 33% | Orient median: 17% (61) | In normal Orient range.

The press found contact but not enough payoff. Clip the next two actions after every regain.

Rest Defence0Orient median: 0 (61) | In normal Orient range.

There were transition leaks, but they were mostly contained before becoming major danger.

Final-Third Tilt55%Opp: 45% | Orient median: 48% (61) | Above Orient baseline.

Share of all final-third event volume owned by Orient. This is a better control proxy than raw possession.

Average Event Height46Opp: 41.4 | Orient median: 42.8 (61) | In normal Orient range.

Average Orient event location on the x-axis. Higher means the game was played closer to the opposition goal.

Benchmark Lens

Versus What?

MetricOrientOpponent / AgainstOrient MedianSampleReadWhat It Means
Threat Balance-5.3-14.8-0.561Below desired baseline.Orient minus opposition net positional passing value, including failed-pass costs and negative completed moves. Not a calibrated goal model or standalone result predictor.
Line Breaks-6+14-361Below desired baseline.Central vertical passes that broke useful pitch lines versus those allowed.
Press Payoff12%33%17%61In normal Orient range.Share of high regains that became a shot, box entry or final-third entry.
Rest Defence0-061In normal Orient range.Advanced Orient losses that became opposition box or shot danger.
Final-Third Tilt55%45%48%61Above Orient baseline.Share of final-third event volume owned by Orient.
Average Event Height46.041.442.861In normal Orient range.Average Orient event location on the x-axis. It is a territory indicator, not automatically a quality indicator.
Territory To Box57%30%22%61Above Orient baseline.Share of final-third entries that became box entries.

Historical context loaded from 61 usable Orient event samples. Reads compare this match against Orient's own median, not a generic league assumption.

Average event height and final-third tilt are territory indicators. They become meaningful only when checked against Orient's own baseline, the opponent's match profile, and whether territory became box access, shots, or transition exposure.

Statistical Inference: Why?

Medium confidenceBuild-up may have become sterile around the back

That combination suggests Orient kept the ball in deeper areas without consistently finding the first pass through pressure.

Signal
49% of completed deep passes were low-progression, with line breaks -6.
Video question
Clip deep possessions that last 4+ passes and ask who should have received on the half-turn.
Caveat
Safe recycling is not automatically bad; it becomes a problem when it is not followed by vertical access.
Medium confidenceDirect exits may not have stuck

If long exits fail repeatedly, the front line cannot breathe and the defence faces repeat waves.

Signal
69 of 109 long/direct pass attempts failed.
Video question
Check whether long passes were planned outlets, pressure clearances, or poor pass selection.
Caveat
Some failed long balls are acceptable if they turn the opponent and allow the block to reset.
Medium confidenceFinal-third access looks too wide-channel dependent

Orient may be reaching territory without enough central occupation to create high-value chances.

Signal
84% of entries came from wide or half-space lanes; central share 16%.
Video question
Check whether the 8/10/striker were available between lines or whether attacks were being forced outside.
Caveat
Wide access can be a deliberate plan if cutbacks and far-post runs are present.
Medium confidencePress contact did not become attacking payoff

The press may have won moments without the next action being clean enough to punish the opponent.

Signal
2 of 17 high regains became a shot, box entry or final-third entry.
Video question
Review first and second actions after each regain: support distance, runner timing and pass selection.
Caveat
A press can still be valuable if it forces rushed clearances and territory, even without immediate shots.

Phase xG Audit

PhaseOrient xGOpp xGOrient ShotsOpp Shots
0-150.170.4934
16-300.220.1012
31-450.220.9733
46-600.291.4024
61-750.150.0020
76-90+0.300.0421

This checks whether the match changed by phase: early control, late collapse, or isolated big chances.

Player Leak Responsibility

PlayerLeaksDanger LeaksxG Against After LossMinute Span
C. Wellens100.009'-9'
D. Mitchell100.0064'-64'
S. Perkins100.0082'-82'

This identifies the source event for dangerous transition leaks. It is a clipping queue, not a blame table.

Build-Up And Circulation Audit

SignalOrientOpponent
Deep low-progression pass share49%52%
Side/back completed pass share58%57%
Progressive pass rate25%31%
Line-break rate3.3%7.6%
Failed long/direct passes69/10967/115
Central completed pass share27%30%

This is the check for claims like "too deep", "too safe around the back", or "direct exits did not stick".

The Plain-English Read

Progression+4

Orient found more forward value than the opposition. The video question is whether that came through midfield control or lower-value wide forcing.

Box Access+5

The final-third work became penalty-area access often enough to call the attacking process alive.

High Press+8

The high-regain signal supports the Wellens pressing identity. The next layer is whether those regains became shots before the block reset.

With The Ball

Pass Map

progressive final third box 245 completed passes shown

Red shows progressive passes, teal shows final-third entries, and gold shows box entries. This is the quickest view of whether possession became threat or just circulation.

Passing Network

ForresterCraigMorrisConnollyAbdulaiMitchellSimpsonMizouniWellensBallardDennisClareHappeJames progressive hub pass link

Node size reflects involvement. Red nodes are players with repeated progressive contribution. Links are inferred from completed passes and the next same-team event in the feed.

Threat, Routes, Line Breaks

Threat Added Heat Map

+1-2+5+4+13+49+73+2+35-20-59-63-130-160-45-112+165-28-521+92+98+204-91-39 Orient advantage opposition advantage

Positional passing proxy v2, in points (value ร—100), not expected goals. Completed passes earn destination minus start value, including negatives. Failed, blocked and offside passes with a known failure outcome lose their starting value; we do not add an assumed opponent counterattack cost. Cells show Orient minus opposition net value: completions at destination, failures at origin. Missing/invalid coordinates and unknown outcomes are excluded. Carries and take-ons are outside this pass-only model. Both sides assume increasing x is forward. Scored passes: Orient 375/383; opposition 308/317.

Line-Break Map

central line break box value

Only vertical passes through useful central lanes are shown. This isolates whether Orient actually broke the game open or simply moved around the outside.

Route Fingerprint

Left touchline50157-399Left half-space4198-793Central45145-154Right half-space46113-349Right touchline63128-312 AllProgEntriesThreat

Lane-by-lane split of pass volume, progressive actions, entries and threat added. This makes the attacking identity visible rather than relying on eye-test memory.

Territory, Chances, Pressure

Shot Map

GForrester 1:08Connolly 5:31Armer 6:13Hartridge 8:17Webster 8:21Connolly 11:46Tavares 14:51McKiernan 24:05Lofthouse 26:35Forrester 30:54Mitchell 32:21Beesley 33:01GTavares 33:03Webster 40:02Mitchell 41:57Mitchell 45:12Lofthouse 46:22Moon 49:19GBallard 51:01Connolly 55:02Beesley 57:20GHartridge 57:22Wellens 62:02Happe 75:16Perkins 80:22Vancooten 85:19Wellens 99:39 Orient shot opposition goal

Pressing Heat Map

defensive action density event

Territory Share

50%31%46%53%40%48%50%48%52%69%67%61%51%45%61%70%39%56%60%47% Orient event share opposition contested

Phase Momentum

0-15223016-3091431-45282446-60162261-7517476-90+2813 Orient Opposition

Press Payoff And Rest Defence

High-Regain Outcomes

SRRRRRLRRRRRRSRRR shot 2retained 14lost 1

Each high regain is tagged by the next attacking outcome: shot, box access, final-third entry, retention or loss. Work rate only matters if the next action has value.

Transition Leak Map

Orient loss opposition danger route

Advanced Orient losses are connected to the opposition danger that followed. This is the rest-defence audit: where attacks died and what came back.

Possession Chains

Best Attacking Chains

StartOriginEventsProgBoxxGNet threatOutcome
50:59Final third / Right half-space2110.260.37Shot
80:15Progression / Right touchline6210.260.72Shot
30:54Final third / Central2000.220.00Shot
32:10Final third / Left touchline6110.180.64Shot
1:08Final third / Central1000.110.00Shot
62:02Final third / Right half-space2000.090.00Shot
75:14Final third / Central3110.060.49Shot
99:39Final third / Right half-space1000.050.00Shot

Chains are inferred from consecutive same-team events. This is not a possession model replacement, but it is strong enough to find the attacks worth clipping first.

Player Impact Layer

Player Events Net threat Line Breaks Box Actions High Regains Shot Chain Actions
T. Bakinson221251101
M. Craig72860302
W. Dennis39272000
T. James29-310000
D. Happe34-350102
J. Simpson52-360102
A. Abdulai55-490321
J. Morris71-902100
W. Forrester84-1191212
D. Mitchell53-1510339

Role-Adjusted Threat Context

Net passing threat /90 vs Attempted passing threat /90

0 High return High attempt / high return High attempt / low return CraigAbdulaiDennisMorrisWellensBakinsonSimpsonConnollyClareMizouniJamesHappeForresterBallardMitchellPerkins Attempted passing threat /90 Net passing threat /90

This compares net passing value with positive intended passing gain, in points per 90. Both axes exclude carries and take-ons. Failed passes deduct starting value and backwards value changes remain negative; the solid horizontal line marks zero. The ratio labelled net/attempted can be negative and is not a completion probability. Wide isolation players can sit in the high-attempt/low-return quadrant without automatically being poor: the question is whether their risk is structurally necessary, well-supported and creating downstream instability. Short samples are lighter and should be used mainly as clipping prompts.

Wide isolation attackerC. WellensHigh attempt / low return

Inferred 100 mins; starter/full-match estimate from event timeline.

Do not read the low net passing threat as simple underperformance. This is a high-risk wide role: the player is trying to access value through crosses or ambitious passes, so the video question is decision quality and support timing.

Minutes
100
Net passing threat
-504.0
Attempted passing threat
507.0
Attempted /90
454.8
Adventurous
25
Turnovers /90
11.7
Wide isolation attackerA. ConnollyHigh attempt / low return

Inferred 78 mins; starter withdrawn from player-off event.

Do not read the low net passing threat as simple underperformance. This is a high-risk wide role: the player is trying to access value through crosses or ambitious passes, so the video question is decision quality and support timing.

Minutes
78
Net passing threat
-488.4
Attempted passing threat
253.6
Attempted /90
292.9
Adventurous
26
Turnovers /90
19.6
Wide isolation attackerD. MitchellLow attempt / low return

Inferred 100 mins; starter/full-match estimate from event timeline.

Read alongside role and video. The score follows fixed positional assumptions; interpretation depends on where, why and under what support conditions the passes were attempted.

Minutes
100
Net passing threat
-151.1
Attempted passing threat
123.5
Attempted /90
110.8
Adventurous
17
Turnovers /90
5.4
Support playerM. CraigHigh attempt / high return

Inferred 68 mins; partial-match sample. Totals need minutes context.

Read alongside role and video. The score follows fixed positional assumptions; interpretation depends on where, why and under what support conditions the passes were attempted.

Minutes
68
Net passing threat
86.1
Attempted passing threat
619.6
Attempted /90
821.8
Adventurous
35
Turnovers /90
22.5

Role Context Table

Player Inferred Role Mins Net passing threat Attempted passing threat Attempted /90 Realised /90 Ambition Gap /90 Role Adj. /90 Net / attempted Adventurous Turnovers Quadrant
M. CraigSupport player6886.1619.6821.8114.2707.6+194.514%3517High attempt / high return
A. AbdulaiSupport player67-49.2489.8655.1-65.8721.0+14.5-10%219High attempt / high return
W. DennisBuild-up defender10027.2581.8521.924.4497.4+90.35%1812High attempt / high return
J. MorrisSupport player100-89.5541.4485.6-80.3565.9+0.0-17%3319High attempt / high return
C. WellensWide isolation attacker100-504.0507.0454.8-452.1906.9+56.0-99%2513High attempt / low return
T. BakinsonSupport player33125.2159.1433.1341.092.2+421.379%71High attempt / high return
J. SimpsonBuild-up defender59-36.3277.1424.9-55.6480.5+10.3-13%1510High attempt / high return
A. ConnollyWide isolation attacker78-488.4253.6292.9-564.1857.0-56.0-193%2617High attempt / low return
S. ClareBuild-up defender45-140.2140.5281.1-280.4561.5-214.6-100%98Low attempt / low return
I. El MizouniSupport player55-157.3153.1249.0-255.8504.8-175.4-103%117Low attempt / low return
T. JamesSupport player32-30.987.6242.7-85.5328.2-5.2-35%62Low attempt / efficient return
D. HappeBuild-up defender42-35.2110.9239.7-76.2315.9-10.3-32%73Low attempt / efficient return

Quadrants and role adjustment are minutes-normalised. Raw totals still matter, but short substitute samples should be treated as clipping prompts rather than firm judgements.

Player Involvement

Player Events Completed Passes Progressive Passes Entries Defensive Actions Shots
W. Forrester84334142
M. Craig722911860
J. Morris71146370
A. Connolly65121273
A. Abdulai551654100
D. Mitchell53212153
J. Simpson52116310
C. Wellens52173222
I. El Mizouni52233290
D. Ballard4682221

Incident Timeline

  1. 0:29DispossessedJ. McKiernan
  2. 0:33Take OnD. Ballard
  3. 0:40Corner AwardedA. Hartridge
  4. 0:40Corner AwardedC. Wellens
  5. 1:08GoalW. Forrester
  6. 3:48FoulD. Mitchell
  7. 3:48FoulJ. Armer
  8. 4:45FoulC. Webster
  9. 4:45FoulA. Abdulai
  10. 5:31Attempt SavedA. Connolly
  11. 5:31SaveJ. Moon
  12. 6:13Attempt SavedJ. Armer
  13. 6:13SaveD. Mitchell
  14. 7:24FoulJ. McKiernan
  15. 7:24FoulA. Abdulai
  16. 8:17Attempt SavedA. Hartridge
  17. 8:17SaveJ. Morris
  18. 8:21Attempt SavedC. Webster
  19. +150 more incidentsavailable in source feed