Relegation-battling Bristol Rovers will look to end a six-game winless streak in League One when they take on in-form Leyton Orient at the Memorial Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The hosts are 20th in the table with 22 points from their opening 22 matches, while the visitors are 10th in the standings with 31 points from their first 22 outings.
Match preview
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After being promoted from League Two in 2021-22, when they secured automatic promotion with a third-placed finish, Bristol Rovers had enjoyed two largely promising years in League One.
They finished 17th in 2022-23 with 53 points from 46 fixtures, leaving them comfortably eight-points above the drop zone, and climbed to 15th in 2023-24, finishing with 57 points and 13 points clear of relegation.
Matt Taylor would have been coming into this campaign aiming to once again lead Bristol Rovers up the table, but a difficult start saw the former manager sacked with the Gas just two points above the drop zone after 19 matches.
David Horseman took charge on an interim basis, leading the side to one draw and one loss, before Inigo Calderon was announced as the new permanent manager, but the Spaniard suffered a 3-0 defeat to Stevenage in his first game in charge last time out.
With three of the four sides below them picking up points in their most recent games, Calderon will be extremely aware of his side's urgent need to secure points to avoid falling into the relegation zone as the season progresses.
Calderon will be hoping he can guide Bristol Rovers to a much-needed victory in his first home game in charge on Wednesday, but the visitors are certainly the favourites given their fantastic recent form.
Leyton Orient endured a dismal start to the campaign, picking up just four wins from their opening 16 fixtures, alongside nine losses and three draws, leaving them battling against relegation.
However, a dominant 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture against Wednesday's opponents at the start of December has ignited a superb run of improved form in the league for Richie Wellens's side.
They are now heading into this one having avoided defeat in all of their last six league outings, recording five wins and one draw in that time, while they are also unbeaten in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Even more remarkably, the O's have kept clean sheets in all of their last seven outings across all competitions, while scoring an impressive 16 goals in that time.
Those results have seen Leyton Orient rapidly rise up the table and into 10th place with 31 points from 22 games, leaving them just six points behind the playoff places.
Team News
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Bristol Rovers have no fresh injury concerns heading into this game, meaning Jamie Lindsay could be the only absentee for this match after the midfielder received a red card in the last outing.
The hosts have struggled for goals so far this season with just 19 in 22 league matches, only Stevenage and Burton Albion have scored fewer, but they will be hoping Promise Omochere can continue his scoring form in this one, having netted two in his last three.
As for the visitors, Jack Simpson could be in line to continue in the centre of defence alongside Omar Beckles after Daniel Happe missed out due to an injury.
Nineteen-year-old Jamie Donley has scored two and assisted two in his last three appearances for Leyton Orient, and the forward is likely to start alongside Daniel Agyei, Ollie O'Neill and Charlie Kelman in attack here.
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Senior, Taylor, Wilson, Mola; McCormick, Conteh; Forde, Hutchinson, Sinclair; Omochere
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Keeley; Galbraith, Beckles, Simpson, Currie; Ball, Brown; Agyei, Donley, O'Neill; Kelman
We say: Bristol Rovers 0-2 Leyton Orient
While Bristol Rovers have struggled this season, Leyton Orient are one of League One's top performers heading into this game, having won five of their last six, and we expect the O's to secure another victory here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
