A rescheduled fixture from round 11 of the 2024-25 League One season sees Leyton Orient and Huddersfield Town go head-to-head against each other at Brisbane Road on Tuesday evening.
The teams have made contrasting starts to the current campaign, with the visitors firmly in contention for a place in the playoffs as things stand, while their hosts are currently embroiled in a relegation battle.
Match preview
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After losing each of their opening four league matches, Leyton Orient went on a downward spiral for the next two months, during which they managed just four wins from 12 matches across all competitions.
However, Richie Wellens's men have since turned things around, embarking on a three-game winning streak across league and cup duty prior to their goalless stalemate against Stevenage Town at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday.
Despite their resurgence in recent weeks, the Os are 21st in the League One table, one point adrift of safety, albeit with two games on hand on Crawley Town, who currently sit just outside the relegation zone.
A chance to win game number four on the bounce in front of their fans now awaits Leyton Orient off the back of victories over Colchester United, Rotherham and most recently Blackpool in the three home outings prior.
However, the hosts have historically struggled in games against the visitors having failed to win any of the most recent eight editions of this fixture, although Tuesday's clash will be the first meeting between the teams since 2015, and Orient will be hoping for a change in fortunes.
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Unlike Leyton Orient, Huddersfield flew out of the blocks with four wins from their first four matches, after which they went on a dry patch, losing seven of their subsequent eight matches across all competitions.
Michael Duff's men would finally return to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Barnsley on October 5, and that has formed the basis for an upturn in form that has yielded five wins and two draws from their eight matches since.
Last time out, the Terriers claimed a 2-1 triumph over Charlton Athletic at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday thanks to goals from Matthew Pearson and David Kasumu either side of Matthew Godden's equaliser.
Seeking an instant return to the Championship after their relegation last time out, Huddersfield are fifth in the standings at the moment, five points shy of automatic promotion with a game in hand but also level on points with the teams just outside the playoff places.
Currently with the joint fourth-best defensive record in the division, only behind Wrexham, Wigan and Exeter, Tuesday's visitors have fared well at the back but certainly have a higher gear to find at the top end of the pitch.
Team News
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Leyton's Ollie O'Neill was shown his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Stevenage, making him ineligible to play any part here due to a one-game suspension.
Charlie Kelman looks set to become the biggest beneficiary of O'Neill's absence as he is set to return to the lineup after having to settle for a cameo last time out.
Twenty-five-year-old David Kasumu has now found the back of the net in consecutive matches for Huddersfield and will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
Matthew Pearson and Rhys Healey are major doubts for the away side here after both coming off with injury scares before the half-time whistle against Charlton.
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Keeley; Currie, Happe, Beckles, James; Warrington, Pratley; Kelman, Galbraith, Perkins; Agyei
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Chapman; Lonwijk, Lees, Helik; Miller, Kasumu, Kane, Wiles, Spencer; Koroma, Radulovic
We say: Leyton Orient 1-2 Huddersfield Town
All indications point to a victory for Huddersfield, but Leyton Orient will be keen to put up a decent fight on their home ground.
Nonetheless, we are tipping the visitors to carry the day and come away with maximum points when all is said and done.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
