Preview: AFC Wimbledon vs. Leyton Orient - prediction, team news, lineups

Leyton Orient could go six points clear at the top of the League Two table if they beat AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane on Tuesday.

Orient are unbeaten in their last five league games but were dumped out of the FA Cup on Saturday, as Wimbledon were held to a 1-1 draw with National League South side Weymouth.

Match preview

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Wimbledon have struggled so far this year following last season's relegation from the third tier, sitting in 15th with just five wins to their name.

They are in the midst of a three-game unbeaten run in the league, though, thanks to Josh Davison's late winner in the 3-2 victory against Harrogate Town at the end of October.

Davison is the Wombles' top scorer this season with six goals in the league, but it is at the other end where they have had their troubles with just three clean sheets all season, all of which came in August.

Despite being in the bottom half of the table, a win against the leaders would take them to within five points of the playoff places.

The O's have been very impressive on their way to the top of League Two, after a number of mediocre seasons since their promotion back to the fourth tier in 2019.

Richie Wellens's side went 10 league games without tasting defeat at the start of the season, before losing to Newport County at the beginning of October.

They beat Salford City two weeks ago, but were eliminated from the FA Cup at Crewe Alexandra at the weekend thanks to Bassala Sambou's winner in second-half stoppage time after Craig Clay had been sent off for the visitors.

Orient have won five of their seven away games this season, drawing the other two to make them the best team on the road this season and only Northampton Town have scored more than them on their travels.

Team News

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Wimbledon fielded a full-strength team at Weymouth on Saturday and could be unchanged from that game.

Courtney Senior started on the right-side of the midfield, and he could keep his place ahead of Ethan Chislett, who was not even on the bench against the Dorset side.

Orient could revert back to the team that beat Salford on October 29, meaning that Dan Happe, Idris El Mizouni, Theo Archibald, Darren Pratley, Paul Smyth and Aaron Drinan could all come back into the starting 11.

Clay is suspended so he will not feature in any capacity, meaning there could be a spot on the bench for Jayden Wareham.

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Tzanev; Gunter, Kalambayi, Towler, Currie; Maghoma, Woodyard; Assal, Pell, Senior; Davison

Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:

Vigouroux; James, Beckles, Happe, Hunt; Pratley, El Mizouni; Archibald, Sotiriou, Smyth; Drinan

We say: AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Leyton Orient

Orient have been absolutely flying this season and will want to take advantage of the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table. They should have just enough quality to beat a Wimbledon side surprisingly struggling so far.

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