MX23RW : Thursday, November 3 04:50:14| >> :600:502381:502381:
[monks data]

Preview: Forest Green Rovers vs. Leyton Orient - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's EFL Cup clash between Forest Green Rovers and Leyton Orient, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Leyton Orient will be looking to build on their positive start to the 2022-23 campaign when they travel to Forest Green Rovers in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

The visitors have won their opening two League Two fixtures this season, while Forest Green have picked up three points from their first two matches of their League One campaign.


Match preview

Forest Green Rovers' Jordan Moore-Taylor acknowledges the fans after the match on August 24, 2021© Reuters

Forest Green were promoted to League One for the first time in their history last season, with the club finishing top of League Two, with only goal difference separating them from second-place Exeter City.

Rovers will be desperate to prove themselves in the third tier, and they made an excellent start to the campaign, recording a 2-1 victory over Bristol Rovers at the end of last month.

Ian Burchnall's side will enter this game off the back of a defeat, though, going down 2-1 at home to Ipswich Town, with Joshua March's second-half effort only proving to be a consolation.

Forest Green lost to Brentford in the League Cup last season after beating Bristol City in the opening round, and it would be a huge surprise if they were able to make a serious impression in the 2022-23 competition, with much of their focus on their League One campaign.

Both matches between Rovers and Orient in League Two last season finished 1-1, but the Greens have won three of their last five meetings in all competitions.

Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens in November 2019© Reuters

Orient, meanwhile, have made a strong start to their 2022-23 League Two campaign, recording back-to-back wins over Grimsby Town and Crawley Town to sit third in the table on six points.

The O's finished 13th in League Two last season, 19 points off the playoffs, so it is going to take a huge effort for them to challenge for promotion during the new campaign.

Orient lost on penalties to Queens Park Rangers in the opening round of last season's League Cup, but they have won two of their last three games in the competition, one of which was against Forest Green back in September 2020.

Richie Wellens's side have a busy schedule in August, facing Mansfield Town, Swindon Town, Colchester United, Hartlepool United and Oxford United before the end of the month, and it will be interesting to see where they are in the table heading into the clash with Tranmere Rovers on September 3.

Forest Green Rovers form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L

Leyton Orient form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W


Team News

Forest Green are unlikely to be able to call upon Udoka Godwin-Malife due to the injury that the defender picked up in the first half of the match with Ipswich at the weekend.

As a result, there is expected to be a start for Dominic Bernard, while March, who came off the bench to score against Ipswich, is also likely to be in the first XI.

Armani Little and Sean Robertson are also expected to feature from the start, with head coach Burchnall expected to make alterations from the weekend.

Orient boss Wellens will make changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Crawley in the league on Saturday.

Sam Sargeant is in line for a spot between the sticks, while Anthony Georgiou, Paul Smyth and Harry Smith are all expected to come into the side from the weekend.

Adam Thompson was an unused substitute against Crawley, but the 29-year-old is also in line to take to the field for the first whistle on Tuesday night.

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; Bernard, Casey, Cargill; O'Keeffe, March, Little, Hendy, McAllister; Brown, Matt

Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Sergeant; James, Thompson, Happe, Hunt; Pratley, Moncur, Georgiou; Smyth, Smith, Archibald


SM words green background

We say: Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Leyton Orient

Neither side will be at full strength on Tuesday, but it should still be a competitive fixture. It would not be a surprise to see a home victory here, but we just have a feeling that Orient will secure a narrow win to progress to the second round of the competition.


ID:491735:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8427:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 30, 2019
Read Next:
Tottenham Hotspur: Transfer ins and outs - January 2020
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Plymouth ArgylePlymouth17132236191741
2Ipswich TownIpswich17114235181737
3Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds17104333161734
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough17101632191331
5Portsmouth157622517827
6Bolton WanderersBolton168351914527
7Derby CountyDerby167452015525
8Barnsley167361914524
9Charlton AthleticCharlton175842723423
10Port Vale176562024-423
11Exeter CityExeter176472825322
12Wycombe WanderersWycombe176472323022
13Lincoln CityLincoln165741819-122
14Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury166461618-222
15Fleetwood TownFleetwood174941715221
16Bristol Rovers175572731-420
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd165471919019
18Cambridge UnitedCambridge1761101829-1119
19Cheltenham TownCheltenham165381320-718
20Accrington StanleyAccrington174581829-1117
21MK Dons1642101522-714
22Morecambe172781327-1413
23Forest Green RoversForest Green1734101535-2013
24Burton Albion1733112035-1512

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!