Preview: Leyton Orient vs. Carlisle United - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are currently in 10th place and head into the match on the back of a six-match run without a defeat.

Match preview

Leyton Orient have showcased confidence and consistency lately which has allowed them to storm up the League One table as they aim to make a push for the playoff positions.

While they still have 11 points to try and claw back to shrink the gap, recent form would showcase that Richie Wellens has got his team drilled enough to accomplish it.

Despite that, he will have been left frustrated in midweek when his men were held to a 1-1 draw against Carlisle's relegation competitors Reading, which is a match they would have been expecting to win due to their league positions.

Before that result, Leyton Orient had gone five matches without even conceding a goal, with resilient defensive performances becoming the norm for them.

Considering their opponents boast one of the lowest amount of goals so far this season, a return to clean sheets is something that Wellens will likely be looking for here.

The visitors might have new owners who have injected cash during the January transfer window, but that has not provided a magic fix for last season's League Two playoff winners.

The U's are without a win in their previous four matches as they sit 10 points adrift from safety, placing real pressure on manager Paul Simpson.

He desperately needs some positive results to start turning the ship before it is too late, and he will require a much-improved performance from the one that was defeated 4-1 by Bolton Wanderers last time out.

Their previous meeting against Leyton Orient will not provide much comfort for the Carlisle fans either as they were comfortably beaten 3-1 on that day in the FA Cup, a result they can ill afford to repeat.

Sitting just a single point above Fleetwood Town, another defeat this weekend could result in the U's slipping to the bottom of the table, which would provide them with an even bigger hill to climb.

Leyton Orient League One form:

W

D

W

W

W

D

Carlisle United League One form:

L

W

L

L

L

L

Team News

The hosts will be without Adam Thompson for the foreseeable future after he joined Barnet on loan, but it remains to be seen whether Wellens makes any changes or keeps things the same.

Ollie O'Neill made his debut for Leyton Orient during their last match from the bench, but he could be an option to play from the first whistle this time around.

Georgie Kelly became the latest signing for Carlisle on deadline day, joining the club from Rotherham United which should put him in contention for this weekend.

The U's have made a plethora of new signings throughout the window with the likes of Jack Diamond, Luke Armstrong and Harry Lewis all coming into the club to provide Simpson with a plethora of options to choose from on Saturday.

Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Galbraith, Beckles, Happe, Sweeney; Brown, El Mizouni; Forde, Sanders, Archibald; Agyei

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:

Lewis; Lavelle, Huntington, Mellish; Ellis, Neal, Moxon, Armer; McCalmont; Butterworth, Armstrong

We say: Leyton Orient 3-0 Carlisle United

This match looks routine on paper due to the recent form and league positions of both teams, and while anything can happen in football it should be a simple win for Leyton Orient.

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