Relegation-threatened Leyton Orient are set to host Bristol Rovers at Gaughan Group Stadium on Tuesday in League One.
Leyton Orient are currently in 21st place with 15 points after 16 games, while Bristol Rovers are six points from the playoff spots, and occupy 14th place after picking up 21 points from their 17 matches so far.
Match preview
Richie Wellens's Os have struggled in League One this season and are one point behind Crawley Town, who are 20th - the last spot above the relegation zone.
Wellens's side have registered just two wins from their last 10 League One fixtures, a stretch that includes three draws and five losses.
However, Orient have fared somewhat better in cup matches in 2024-25, and in all competitions have recorded one loss in their six most recent games.
Last time out, the Os came up against National League Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup and won 2-1 thanks in no small part to the heroics of Tottenham Hotspur loanee goalkeeper Josh Keeley, who scored an equaliser in the ninth minute of stoppage time to take the game beyond 90 minutes.
From there, Daniel Agyei managed to find a 121st-minute winner to lead his team into the third round, where the prospect of drawing a major Premier League side awaits.
On Tuesday, Wellens will be hoping to channel the momentum from the drama of their cup match into picking up at least a point against Bristol Rovers, which could be enough to take them out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Bristol Rovers' manager Matt Taylor is currently on a leave of absence due to an ongoing family emergency, so assistant Wayne Carlisle and first-team coach David Horseman will be in charge against Orient.
The Pirates are mid-table and have lost just once in their last four League One games, but have only won once in their last five.
In their most recent match, Rovers won on penalties away to Barnsley in the FA Cup after 120 minutes produced no goals for either side.
In that game, the Pirates were thoroughly dominated by their league rivals and faced 30 shots, nine of which were on target, while generating just six shots and one effort on goal of their own.
Additionally, it is worthwhile to note that Taylor's men have scored just once in their last four games in all competitions, and failed to score against Blackpool, who have conceded the most goals in the entire division, in their 2-0 loss on November 26.
If the Pirates harbour any hopes of climbing the League One table, then they need to address issues at both ends of the pitch and will hope to show some improvement against Tuesday's relegation-threatened opponents.
Team News
Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens has generally opted to rotate his lineups in different competitions, so expect cup hero Keeley to remain in goal on Tuesday, shielded by centre-backs Omar Beckles and Daniel Happe, whom the boss favours in league matches.
Likewise, striker Agyei, who scored the winner on Saturday, can be expected to start up front backed up by versatile attacking midfielder Ethan Galbraith.
As for Bristol Rovers, centre-backs James Wilson and Connor Taylor did not start in the FA Cup against Barnsley, and Carlisle and Horseman could bring them back into the lineup for Tuesday's league game.
Striker Chris Martin was also selected on the bench against Barnsley, and could retake his place in the XI from Gatlin O'Donkor this week.
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Keeley; James, Beckles, Happe, Currie; Brown, Warrington, Galbraith; Perkins, Agyei, Kelman
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Moore, Taylor, Wilson, Mola; Lindsay, Conteh, McCormick; Hutchinson, Forde, Martin
We say: Leyton Orient 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Leyton Orient may be in the relegation zone, but they are just one point from Crawley and a win would take them to within three points of opponents Bristol Rovers with a superior goal difference.
The Gas have struggled at both ends of the pitch in recent matches and without their usual manager in charge may not be able to withstand Wellens's Os on Tuesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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