Out-of-form Leyton Orient host Charlton Athletic at Brisbane Road on Boxing Day, keen to end their wretched run of results in League One.
The home side have not claimed maximum points on their turf in over two months, and the gameweek 24 encounter presents an opportunity to end that sequence of results.
Match preview
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Richie Wellens must be worried about his team's inability to pick up results in London, underscored by Leyton Orient's absence of home wins since October.
The Os last won at Brisbane Road in a 2-1 success over Reading and are approaching three months without securing a fourth victory in front of their supporters.
That run currently stands at five games, the majority ending in defeats, with only 1-1 draws against Barnsley and Wigan Athletic preventing five straight losses in the capital.
Wellens' team suffered a beatdown in their recent game at Brisbane Road, suffering a 3-0 loss against promotion-chasing Derby County on December 9.
The Os boss undoubtedly seeks a response from his troops, keen to put the last two months behind them and send supporters at Brisbane Road happy in their penultimate home game in 2023.
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As for Charlton, the mid-table club sits 11 points off sixth and 11 ahead of 21st-placed Reading, pointing to a side neither without immediate relegation fears nor playoff aspirations.
While nothing is set in stone, a run of victories could catapult the Addicks into the top-six conversation, but the Southeast London outfit must turn their draws into wins to have that target.
Even though Michael Appleton's men are undefeated in seven gameweeks, only two wins have been secured in that timeframe — a 3-2 victory at Wigan and a 2-1 home win against Cheltenham Town — with five stalemates undermining ambitious promotion targets.
Interestingly, the triumph at Wigan on October 31 remains the only road victory secured by the Addicks in 2023-24 in League One.
Adding to that sole success should be timely for a side with an outside chance of making the top six.
Team News
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Brandon Cooper has been suspended since receiving a red against Derby, and the Leyton Orient defender is absent for the third game running.
Jordan Graham and Adam Thompson are missing through injury, while Idris El Mizouni could miss out after going off 20 minutes after his introduction at Bolton Wanderers.
The away side have Terry Taylor, Harry Isted and Chuks Aneke absent on Boxing Day, with Appleton tipped to line up in a 4-3-3.
Alfie May netted twice in Charlton's October victory over Wigan, and the attacker should start on Tuesday.
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Brynn; Hunt, Turnss, Happe, James; Brown, Galbraith; Drinan, Sotiriou, Archibald; Forde
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Maynard-Brewer; Watson, Hector, Thomas, Edun; Campbell, Dobson, Fraser; May, Tedic, Blackett-Taylor
We say: Leyton Orient 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Both sides may have to accept a point in the London derby, with Leyton Orient's continuing their winless run at Brisbane Road and Charlton settling for another away draw.
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