Looking to maintain their spot in the top six of the league standings, Stevenage will welcome an out-of-form Leyton Orient side to the Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon in League One.
The Boro suffered a 3-1 defeat at promotion rivals Peterborough United in the week, whilst the O's were forced to share the spoils with Port Vale last time out.
Match preview
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After stating that Stevenage would be the outfit that other teams would not wish to face in May's playoffs, Steve Evans watched on as his Boro side ended their five-game unbeaten streak in League One, losing 3-1 at Weston Homes Stadium against a Peterborough team who are chasing down the top two.
The visitors found themselves three goals behind after 77 minutes courtesy of strikes from Harrison Burrows, Jadel Katongo and Kwame Poku for Darren Ferguson's Posh, meaning that Nick Freeman's second of the league campaign in the final stages was a mere consolation for the Boro.
Having won just two of their last nine contests in League One, Stevenage are hanging onto their top-six status as the season approaches its business end, with Saturday's hosts just a single point ahead of seventh-placed Blackpool, who have lost just one of their last six in the third tier.
Continuing his excellent form from the promotion-winning campaign of 2022-23, Jamie Reid has hit new heights in League One this term, netting 17 goals in 35 league contests, with the 29-year-old doing enough to be called up by Northern Ireland ahead of the March internationals.
The Boro will need to lean on their home form if they are to achieve back-to-back promotions, as Stevenage's three League One successes since the beginning of February all arriving at the Lamex Stadium, with Evans's troops defeating Blackpool, Wycombe Wanderers and managerless Cambridge United.
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Despite finishing above Stevenage to claim the League Two title in 2022-23, Leyton Orient are finding life slightly harder than the Boro on their return to the third tier, and the O's are now three games without maximum points after a lacklustre goalless draw against Port Vale on Tuesday night.
Richie Wellens's men dominated the ball at the Gaughan Group Stadium but were ultimately unable to breach the net of Vale goalkeeper Connor Ripley, meaning that Orient have failed to make the net ripple in each of their last three matches, scoring only once in the last four.
No side inside the top 15 of League One has scored fewer goals than Leyton Orient ahead of this weekend's round of fixtures, although Saturday's visitors remain in the race for a top-six placement, sitting 10th in the third-tier table, six points behind sixth-placed Stevenage.
The O's have enjoyed some memorable away days since returning to this level at the beginning of the season, including the trip to the Kassam Stadium to face Des Buckingham's Oxford United on February 24, when goals from Oliver O'Neill and George Moncur sealed a 2-1 victory on the road.
Despite receiving criticism from sections of the fanbase in the earlier parts of the term, former Cyprus youth international Ruel Sotiriou is leading the Golden Boot race for Wellens's side, netting 10 goals in League One so far - one more than he managed in the fourth tier during 2022-23.
Team News
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Following a disappointing showing at Peterborough in the week, Stevenage could make some changes to their starting XI, with the likes of Louis Thompson and former Reading defender Nesta Guinness-Walker pushing for places in the team.
Reid is a shoo-in at the top of the pitch before he heads off for international duty, although the 29-year-old could have a new strike partner on Saturday, with Elliott List potentially replacing Vadaine Oliver.
Youngster Harvey White dropped out of the matchday squad entirely at the Weston Homes Stadium last time out, but the 22-year-old should be in line for some minutes on the weekend.
After drawing a blank against Port Vale, Leyton Orient could promote leading goalscorer Sotiriou and Daniel Adu-Adjei to the starting side as the visitors look to solve their attacking problems.
Max Sanders was hooked after just 57 minutes versus Vale and is not expected to start at the Lamex Stadium, meaning that veteran Darren Pratley could operate in the engine room.
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Ashby-Hammond; Wildin, Sweeney, Piergianni, Butler; Freeman, Vancooten, B Thompson, L Thompson; List, Reid
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Brynn; Hunt, Beckles, Cooper, Sweeney; Brown, El Mizouni, Forde, Pratley, O'Neill; Pigott
We say: Stevenage 2-0 Leyton Orient
Apart from during the trip to Peterborough, Stevenage have been flawless defensively in recent weeks and should be confident of another clean sheet on Saturday.
Leyton Orient's top-six charge is beginning to lose momentum, and we reckon that the O's playoffs hopes will all but end at the Lamex Stadium on the weekend.
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