Orient defender Gary Sawyer is suspended for Sunday's FA Cup clash Pic: Simon O'Connor

Defender Sawyer misses his first game as he faces a ban

Orient boss Russell Slade will be forced into at least one change when his side travel to Alfreton for Sunday’s televised FA Cup second round showdown against the Blue Square Premier side.

Left-back Gary Sawyer will miss his first game of the season after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign against Preston last weekend.

Alex Smith, on loan from Fulham, can play at left-back, but the Premier League side do not want him cup-tied, so Leon McSweeney looks set to deputise.

The O’s boss, whose side have won their last five games, is looking forward to the trip to Derbyshire and said: “I like the cup, the chairman likes the cup, we’re on television and let’s hope we can go there and get a positive result.”

Slade knows the cameras will be hoping for a shock. “They are always looking for an upset, that’s the nature of the game,” he said.

“And if there is an upset so be it, that’s what happens in football.

“But we go there in great heart and that’s important to us and at the end of the day it’s our league status and league form that’s very important.”