Everton V Leyton Orient - Capital One Cup

Everton begins, what will hopefully be a long run in the Capital One Cup against League 1 side Leyton Orient at Goodison Park on Wednesday night. This 2nd round fixture pits two sides that have had polar opposite starts to the season with Everton having started the season in brilliant form defeating Manchester United 1-0 and Aston Villa 3-1 on the weekend, whereas the visitors have endured a tough start which has seen them lose both of their games this season. However, in the 1st round they managed to knock off Championship side Charlton Athletic 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Everton assistant Steven Round highlighted that Everton will be taking the Capital One Cup seriously saying

'It's a very important competition for us and you will see that from the squad we select. It will be a strong team, it's an opportunity for Everton to win some silverware and qualify for Europe, so it's something we will take seriously. It's a competition we have probably not done as well as we should have done in. Hopefully that will change this season.'

Jamie Jones, a lifelong Evertonian, who spent 12 years at the club as a youngster and currently the O's keeper spoke about the excitement about facing the club he loves saying

'I will be emotional when it has sunk in that I'm playing at Goodison Park in front of the Everton fans and against the team I played for, for such a long time. It's just going to be an unbelievable experience the moment I walk out of the tunnel and there will be thousands of brilliant loyal supporters there going to watch the game. Of course I can't let that get to me and all professionals can switch on and switch off like that. I'll have to switch on into the game and do the best I can for Orient because that's who I play for.'

Everton has more or less a fully fit squad to choose from, with the exception being Tony Hibbert who missed the Villa game through injury, and given the opposition and the competition will most likely be rested for the match. Everton manager will most likely have one eye on the West Brom fixture on the weekend and make sure they maintain the 100% record in the league and will be tempted to rest some of his stars for the match. Expect new signings Steven Naismith and Kevin Mirallas to make their home debuts and see some of the reserve players get a run out.

Possible Starting XI: Howard, Baines, Heitinga, Duffy, Coleman, Osman, Junior, Mirallas, Naismith, Barkley, Anichebe

The talented Belgian is set to make his home debut for the club following his 5.3mil move from Olympiakos. After making a 15min cameo against Aston Villa, the home fans will be eagerly waiting to see how he performs. The attacker has all the attributes to be a top player, the player has pace that causes trouble for defenders, technically is very good, has an eye for goal and is both footed.

The O's had the benefit of not playing on the weekend after their game with hartlepool was called off due to Hartlepool being stuck in heavy traffic. This has proved to be good news for the O's as front man Kevin Lisbie is expected back from an injury that saw him miss the 1-0 loss to Stevenage a week ago. In further good news, new signing Lee Cook could be in line for a debut after signing as a free agent following his release from QPR. In bad news for the club, Steven Cuthbert will miss the match after he suffered a hamstring tear in the clubs opening 3-1 defeat to Tranmere.

Possible Starting XI: Jones, Sawyer, James, Chorley, Clarke, Baudry, Griffith, Cook, Cox, Symes, Lisbie

Lifelong Evertonian Jones will be a big factor in the end result. Given the way Everton are playing and given it is at Goodison, it would be safe to assume that Everton will be pressing the issue and you would expect that Jones will be a busy man on Wednesday night, he would need to put in a very good performance to ensure that the O's progress to the 3rd round.

1. Despite Everton's long and successful history, the club has still not won the League Cup.

2. After defeating Aston Villa, Everton extended their record to 12 games unbeaten.

3. Leighton Baines has started the season in sparkling form, the left back has created 13 chances for Everton, the most in the league

4. Leyton Orient have proven in the past to be difficult opposition for Premier League clubs, last season they pushed Blackburn despite eventually losing 3-2, but famously in the 2010/11 FA Cup made the 5th round only losing to Arsenal, in which they forced a replay at the Emirates.

Given the way Everton and Leyton Orient have started the season, not to mention the fixture being played at Goodison, it is hard to look past an Everton win. However, as Leyton Orient has shown, they will be no pushovers and I expect Everton will be challenged. But I think the quality, despite the possibility of some of the stars being rested, will be enough to get Everton over the line. I will say 4-1 to Everton with Mirallas scoring twice, Naismith and Anichebe on the scoresheet for Everton and Lisbie scoring for the O's. COYB!!! EXPECT A GOOD CUP RUN AND WOULD LOVE SOME LONG OVERDUE SILVERWARE!!!!

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