Preview of first game of the season: Sunderland away (24th August)

A trip up north to Sunderland is probably not the best tonic for the injury hit and struggling O’s. Sunderland, whose last competitive match was to beat Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final will surely prove too much for Petchey's side. The Wanstead and Woodford Guardian agree that Sunderland ‘not unnaturally are odds on favourites to win.’ Despite trying to find glimmers of hope for Orient their chief sports correspondent has remarked how ‘I’m going along with the forecasters and predicting a home win.’ And with Bob Stokoe’s Cup Winning side brimming with confidence and led by their England international centre half Dave Watson , who can blame him...