Sebastian Liggenstorfer previews the O’s upcoming League Two fixture at Mansfield Town.
Leyton Orient travel to the One Call Stadium this Saturday as they face fellow League Two Play-Off chasers Mansfield Town.
Orient will try to stretch their unbeaten streak to five games and last weekend drew 0-0 with Scunthorpe in the FA Cup Second Round.
Mansfield currently sit one point ahead of Orient in 7th place, but a win for the visitors could see them leapfrog the Stags.
FORM
The O’s most recent league outing saw Ian Hendon’s side held to a draw at home to AFC Wimbledon. Jay Simpson opened the scoring with his 15th goal of the season, but after having John Marquis sent off early in the second half Wimbledon managed to grab an equaliser ten minutes from time through Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Mansfield Town found themselves with an extended break last weekend having suffered defeat to Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup First Round, but claimed a 3-1 victory at Barnet at the end of November.
TEAM NEWS
Having served his one-match suspension Orient will have Marquis available once again while goalkeeper Alex Cisak and striker Jay Simpson are also expected to return having missed out with ankle injuries.
Mansfield will be without full-backs Nicky Hunt and Mal Bennings, but will also be missing midfielder Chris Clements who serves a one-match suspension. Striker Chris Beardsley is expected to feature however despite breaking his nose against Barnet.
KEY MEN
Jay Simpson will be key to another good result for Orient. The 27-year-old is the leading scorer in the top for divisions in English football and continues to try and edge even closer to that 20-goal landmark.
Simpson scored four goals throughout November, enough to earn a place on the shortlist for the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month.
Mansfield manager Adam Murray will look for another strong performance of the team’s leading goal scorer Matt Green, who scored his 7th goal of the season against Barnet.
Having re-joined the Stags in the summer from Birmingham, the striker has three goals from his last three matches and could prove to be a handful for the O’s defence.