Latics out to get it right this time

FIRED UP: Athletic boss Lee Johnson wants to put early-season defeat at hands of Orient “to bed.”

ATHLETIC will embark on a revenge mission in the first round of the FA Cup as the club play host to Leyton Orient — the only team to leave SportsDirect.com Park with three league points this season.

Manager Lee Johnson, who confessed that last night’s draw posed a tricky task for his side against

big-spending play-off finalists of last term, suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the O's in mid-August.

Star striker Jonathan Forte’s opening goal was answered by efforts from Darius Henderson, David Mooney and Kevin Lisbie.

Since then Orient have lost manager Russell Slade to Cardiff and league form has wavered - they are now only a point above the relegation zone in 18th place.

But Johnson says the ambitious club could have new recruits in place before the game on the November 8 weekend.

“It will be a tough game and it is not an ideal draw. Both teams will regard it as a difficult tie, I am sure,” Johnson said.

“They have beaten us before — the only side to do so at home — and we have been given the chance to put that one to bed.

“They have got good players and a new manager and I know they are in the market at the moment for some top players. But we want a good run in the FA Cup.

“We now have a series of monumentally tough games coming up: Bristol City away, Orient, Preston and Crawley at home, Sheffield United and Rochdale away and then Yeovil. I might need to get another one or two players in.”