Two playoff hopefuls square off in League One this weekend, as Leyton Orient host Lincoln City at the Gaughan Group Stadium.
Orient come into the weekend's action sitting just outside the playoff zone in seventh, while Lincoln are 12th in the table and nine points off the playoffs.
Match preview
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The hosts had Premier League champions Manchester City on the ropes last weekend in the FA Cup, as they held the lead against Pep Guardiola's side for almost an hour, before eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat.
Nobody could fault the effort from Orient, as they came within 11 minutes of forcing extra time against one of the best teams in the country.
Things returned to normality on Tuesday evening, as they beat Mansfield Town 3-0 in a comfortable home victory against the struggling Stags.
Goals from Jordan Brown, Randell Williams and Ethan Galbraith effectively sealed the victory for the hosts after just over half an hour.
It was an important victory for Orient, as heading into Tuesday's clash with Mansfield, they were on a run of three defeats in their last five matches in all competitions.
The win helped stop a slight blip in what has been a promising season for the O's, as goalkeeper Josh Keeley kept his 13th clean sheet in just his 19th league appearance.
The young Irish keeper is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and has been instrumental in Orient's defensive success, with the hosts currently owning the third-strongest defensive record in the division.
The O's have been impressive down the other end of the pitch too, as they have netted 43 goals in the league so far this season, making them the sixth-strongest attack in the league.
With plenty of strength in both the attack and defence, it is no surprise that Orient are challenging for the playoff positions this season.
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This weekend, they take on a Lincoln side that have shown signs of recovery in recent weeks – the club were on a run of just one win in 12 league matches between November 9 and January 4, but two wins and two draws in their last five games has lifted the mood at the club.
Their head coach Michael Skubala may have been fearful of his future at the club during that run, but they appear to be heading in the right direction again following that difficult spell during the winter.
Lincoln have four wins away from home so far this season, and if they can find another one this weekend, they could put themselves in the pack of clubs chasing a playoff spot.
A victory for the visitors this weekend would reduce the gap between the two sides to just four points, so there is plenty of incentive for Skubala's side to get the win.
The history books favour Lincoln, as they are unbeaten in their last six games against Orient - although that run does stretch back as far back as 20 years ago.
However, it does also include the meeting between the two sides earlier this season, when Lincoln won 2-1 in the reverse fixture back in October, with goals from Jovon Makama and Freddie Draper helping to secure the points that day.
Team News
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The hosts are expected to be without Omar Beckles, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Jordan Graham is out with a knee problem.
Elsewhere, Orient have been boosted by the recent returns of Dan Agyei and Jack Simpson in recent weeks, with both available for selection this weekend.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be without Sheffield Wednesday loanee Bailey Cadamarteri, as he recovers from an adductor injury.
In further blows for the visitors, Tyler Walker is sidelined for the foreseeable future, while key man Ethan Erhahon is out for several weeks after coming off in a recent draw against Wigan Athletic.
Tom Hamer is back on the training pitch following a spell on the sidelines, as he is being eased back into action, while Nottingham Forest loanee Joseph Gardner is suspended following his red card on his debut against Cambridge United.
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Keeley; Galbraith, Edmonds-Green, Happe, Currie; Brown, Pratley, Markanday, Donley, Williams; Abdulai
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Jeacock; Darikwa, Jackson, O'Connor, Roughan; McGrandles, Hackett-Fairchild, Bayliss, Hamilton; Draper, Collins
We say: Leyton Orient 2-0 Lincoln City
Orient look the real deal this year, and we think that they are in a good position to earn promotion to the Championship, despite sitting just outside the playoff zone at present.
A win would potentially lift them into the playoff zone, and we think that they will keep another clean sheet here in a comfortable home win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
