Exetervs.Leyton Orient

In contrast to the visitors, the Grecians will be low on confidence after failing to win any of their last six matches in League One.

Match preview

Exeter have added just two points to their tally since they recorded their most league victory in a home game against Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day.

They followed that result with a thrilling 4-4 draw against Crawley Town, before they lost three consecutive league matches against Wycombe Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers and Birmingham City.

While they halted that losing run with a draw against Peterborough United, Exeter fell to another defeat in Saturday's home meeting with Blackpool, conceding three first-half goals in a 3-1 loss to Steve Bruce's side.

As a result, 17th-placed Exeter have now won just one of their last eight home league games (D3, L4), suggesting they will have their work cut out to take three points from Tuesday's fixture.

However, Gary Caldwell's side may be able to draw inspiration from October's meeting between the two sides, which saw the Grecians clinch a narrow 1-0 away victory thanks to an Amani Richards effort.

At the end of November, Leyton Orient were laughing in the League One relegation zone with 15 points from 16 league matches.

Two months later, Orient's relegation fears are a distant memory, having put together a 10-game unbeaten league run (W8, D2) to move up to seventh place and within one point of the playoffs.

They recently saw a run of five consecutive league victories ended by a goalless away draw against Peterborough United, before they quickly returned to winning ways in Saturday's home meeting with Reading.

Blackburn Rovers loanee Dilan Markanday scored his first Orient goal to open the scoring, before Charlie Kelman doubled the advantage to wrap up a 2-0 victory, representing a fourth consecutive home league win without conceding.

In fact, the O's have recorded clean sheets in nine of their 10 matches during their impressive unbeaten run, and they will hope a strong backline can help them in their efforts to claim an away win over Exeter for the second season in a row.

Exeter City League One form:

D

L

L

L

D

L

Exeter City form (all competitions):

L

L

W

L

D

L

Leyton Orient League One form:

W

W

W

W

D

W

Leyton Orient form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

L

W

Team News

Exeter defender Vincent Harper is a doubt for the midweek fixture, having missed the last two matches with concussion.

Jack Fitzwater will also have to be assessed by Exeter's medical staff after being forced off in the first half against Blackpool.

Millenic Alli is set to feature in the forward line, with the striker looking to score in a third consecutive match.

As for the visitors, they may have to make do without the services of Jack Simpson, who sat out the recent win over Reading due to injury.

Swansea City loanee Azeem Abdulai is set to retain his place in the starting lineup after making his Orient debut on Saturday.

Kelman will continue to offer one of the home side's main goal threats, having scored eight times in 26 league appearances this season.

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Whitworth; Diabate, McDonald, Francis; Niskanen, Richards, Colwill, McMillan; Mitchell; Alli, Magennis

Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:

Keeley; Galbraith, Beckles, Cooper, Currie; Pratley, Brown; Markanday, Donley, Abdulai; Kelman

We say: Exeter City 1-2 Leyton Orient

Written by

Ben Sully

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