Leyton Orient will be aiming to continue their winning ways when they host Mansfield Town after stringing together back-to-back victories. Meanwhile, the Stags will be hoping to bounce back from their first league defeat of the campaign. Here we preview Saturday’s game:

Leyton Orient

Last weekend, the O’s made it two wins in a row by beating Grimsby Town at Blundell Park.

Grimsby were the better side during the first half but they failed to translate their dominance into goals.

By contrast, Andy Hessenthaler’s men managed to take the opportunities that came their way.

Just before the hour mark Liam Kelly seized on a mistake from James McKeown. The Grimsby Town stopper spilled Jordan Bowery’s low cross, leaving Kelly with a simple tap in.

The O’s then doubled their advantage. Ollie Palmer had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he came back to haunt his former side. Josh Gowling slipped when he tried to intercept Tom Parkes’ long pass to Palmer, and the Orient target man collected the ball. Palmer was through on goal and he coolly slotted the ball past McKeown to make it 0-2.

The Mariners managed to pull a goal back in stoppage time when Dominic Vose’s shot took a deflection off of Nicky Hunt. The ball looped over Alex Cisak and into the Orient goal, spoiling what would have been a well-deserved clean sheet for the Australian.

Team News

Jay Simpson was the major absentee last Saturday. The striker ruled himself out of the game on Saturday morning due to a back problem and as a result the O’s were only able to name six substitutes against Grimsby. Simpson remains a doubt for the visit of Mansfield.

Jordan Bowery replaced Simpson in the starting line-up last weekend, despite concerns over his fitness due to a knee problem.

Nigel Atangana was back in the starting eleven last weekend after overcoming the knock he picked up against Stevenage and therefore he is expected to continue in the side.

There is still some uncertainty over the availability of Paul McCallum. He has not been included in any of Orient’s last three matchday squads. Sean Clohessy was not in the squad last Saturday either.

Ex-Stags

Ollie Palmer signed for Mansfield for an undisclosed fee in August 2013. He scored seven goals in 63 appearances for the Stags.

Nicky Hunt joined Mansfield Town in the summer of 2015 and he made 21 appearances before signing for the O’s for an undisclosed fee in February 2016.

 

Mansfield Town

Last Season

League Two: 12th FA Cup: 1st round  League Cup: 1st Round  Top scorer: Matt Green 16

After finishing just two places above the relegation zone in 2014/15, last season’s campaign was a significant improvement for Mansfield. They claimed 12th place with 64 points, five fewer than the O’s.

At the beginning of February Mansfield were in the hunt for a play-off spot, but a run of nine games which saw just one win and six defeats left the Stags in 13th place.

Orient were the only side to beat Adam Murray’s men in their last six games but they couldn’t rise higher than mid-table.

 

Summer Transfers

This Season

League Two: 7th  League Cup: 1st Round  Top-scorer: Green, M. Rose 2

 

Mansfield are currently in 7th place in League Two with seven points from their four league fixtures so far, the same total as the O’s.

The Stags began the season on the road and they managed to snatch a victory on the opening day thanks to a late goal. Kevan Hurst scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-3 win.

Like Orient, they were then knocked out of the League Cup by Championship opposition as they were defeated by Blackburn by three goals to one at home.

Despite their cup exit, Mansfield managed to avoid defeat in their following two league games. They drew 1-1 with Cheltenham Town and went on to beat Yeovil by a goal to nil, despite being reduced to ten men early on. Danny Rose was sent-off after just nine minutes, but Matt Green scored from the penalty spot in the second half to give the Stags their second win of the season

However, last time out, they suffered their first league defeat of the season.

Last Saturday the Stags travelled to Home Park to face Plymouth Argyle and the hosts established a two goal lead in the first-half, which Mansfield failed to recover from.

Graham Carey whipped a free-kick into the Mansfield goal from an acute angle to put Plymouth in front. Just five minutes later Carey doubled his and Plymouth’s tally. The Pilgrims’ playmaker weaved his way into the Stags’ box and curled the ball past Brian Jensen from a tight angle again.

Mitchell Rose and Chris Clements both had opportunities to pull a goal back for the visitors but neither could reduce the deficit and Argyle kept a clean sheet.

Last Line-up:

Jensen

Bennett  Collins  Howkins  Benning

Chapman

Hurst  M. Rose  Clements  Hemmings

Green

(4-1-4-1)

Substitutes:

Baxendale, McGuire, Law, Hakeem, Hamilton (Hurst 62’), Taft (M. Rose 77’), Henderson (Hemmings 45’)

Team News

Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray could have as many as six senior players unavailable to him for the trip to Brisbane Road.

Jack Thomas is set to miss out due to a groin strain, Scott Shearer is still recovering from the concussion he suffered against Cheltenham and Chris Clements is also a doubt after picking up a hamstring problem against Plymouth.

The visitors will be without Danny Rose as he will continue to serve his suspension following his dismissal against Yeovil.

Krystian Pearce and Pat Hoban are back in training after spells on the sidelines, however, they may only be fit enough for the bench.

Mansfield’s injuries could see young players such as Jason Law and Zayn Hakeem get an opportunity. Both were substitutes for the Stags last time out.

 

Ex O’s

Darius Henderson  joined the O’s in August 2014 from Nottingham Forest. He scored 8 goals in 25 appearances for the club.

 

 

 

Leyton Orient avoided defeat in the two fixtures against Mansfield Town last season.

The O’s hosted the Stags in their final home game of last season and they claimed a 1-0 victory.

Ollie Palmer eventually managed to score against his former club in the 49th minute. The O’s striker met Lloyd James’ free-kick at the far post and he headed the ball into the Mansfield net.

The two sides drew at Field Mill earlier in that season, as the Stags came from behind to secure a point.

Jay Simpson put Orient ahead after twelve minutes as he headed home from Jobi McAnuff’s cross. However, the Stags equalised shortly before the break as Reggie Lambe volleyed the ball in off the post. The hosts then came close to grabbing a winner when Krystian Pearce’s header hit the upright, but neither side could muster a winner.

Mansfield have failed to beat the O’s in their last nine attempts and they have lost seven of those games.

The Stags’ last victory against Orient was back in October 2001.

Mansfield took the lead through Lee Williamson, however, they were quickly pegged back by Scott Houghton. Craig Disley and Chris Greenacre put the Stags 3-1 up shortly before half-time and although Steve Watts pulled a goal back for the O’s with twenty minutes left, Orient could not rescue a point.

 

 

 

Match Officials

Referee: Kevin Johnson

Assistants: Ian Cooper and Andrew Quin

Fourth Official:  Louis Marks