Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s League Two clash between Leyton Orient and Stevenage, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
First plays second in League Two on Boxing Day, when Leyton Orient face off against Stevenage at the Breyer Group Stadium.
Orient are seven points clear of their opponents after a fantastic start to the season, but the match still serves as an opportunity for the visitors to make up some ground on the league leaders.
Match preview
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Leyton Orient look set to return to League One for the first time since 2015, having built up a huge lead at the top of the League Two table in the first half of the season.
After 21 games played, the O’s are 16 points clear of fourth-placed Swindon Town with a game in hand, meaning a drastic change of form would be needed if they were not to achieve their goal of promotion.
Richie Wellens‘ side have the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 12 goals up to this point, managing to keep clean sheets in five of their last seven league matches.
Confidence could seemingly not be higher within the squad, as the O’s have won seven of their last eight League Two matches, including their last four, despite facing some tough opponents in this time, including the likes of Stockport County and Bradford City.
Last time out, Orient were comfortable 2-0 winners at home to Sutton United, with Paul Smyth breaking the deadlock just after the hour mark, before an own goal from Alistair Smith put the game beyond the U’s’ reach.
If any team is going to stop the O’s in their tracks, it is likely to be Stevenage, as they are now undefeated in their last six league outings, most recently securing a decent point on the road in a 0-0 draw away at Mansfield Town.
That followed on from a 5-0 home victory against sixth-placed Barrow, with Steve Evans‘ side displaying that they are a cut above some of the other teams occupying places in the top seven.
The Boro are nine points clear inside the automatic promotion places, with form at the Lamex Stadium proving vital, having lost just once there all season, with 28 points in 11 games giving them the best home record in the division.
While Stevenage are undoubtedly having a great season, form on their travels has not been quite as good, having not won away in the league since a 1-0 victory against Doncaster Rovers at the end of October.
That, coupled with the fact that the Boro have not beaten Orient in their last six attempts, means that Monday’s game will be a very tough test for Evans’ side, and it would not be a surprise if they are happy to settle for another point on the road.
Leyton Orient League Two form:
Leyton Orient form (all competitions):
Stevenage League Two form:
Stevenage form (all competitions):
Team News
After winning in comfortable style last time out, there is no real reason for Richie Wellens to make too many changes to his Orient side.
Top scorer Paul Smyth is set to feature on the left of midfield, with Theodore Archibald on the opposite flank, while Darren Pratley should partner Idris El Mizouni in the centre.
Charlie Kelman and Aaron Drinan were the chosen pair in attack last time out, and while six league goals between them this season is not the greatest return, they are likely to keep their places.
Stevenage have a full squad to choose from, a welcome bonus when travelling to the league leaders, and they may make a few alterations to the team that took on Portsmouth last week.
Luke Norris is set to return, replacing Danny Rose in the frontline, while Jake Reeves and Alex Gilbey are poised for starts in the centre of midfield.
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Vigouroux; Brown, Beckles, Happe, James; Archibald, Pratley, El Mizouni, Smyth; Kelman, Drinan
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Ashby-Hammond; WIldin, Sweeney, Piergianni, Earley; Reeves, Campbell, Gilbey, Roberts; Norris, Reid
We say: Leyton Orient 1-0 Stevenage
While there is no doubt that it will be a very closely-contested game, we expect Leyton Orient to just about get the job done, extending their lead at the top of the table even further.
The O’s have shown that they can beat some of the league’s better sides in recent times, with the victories against Bradford and Stockport, so there is no reason why they cannot go one step further and beat the team in second place.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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