Preview:Mansfield Town vs Leyton Orient - prediction, team news, lineups

Mansfield Town welcome Leyton Orient to the One Call Stadium on Saturday, with both sides keen to push their way up the League One standings.

The gap between the teams is a single point and three places, promising a finely poised contest.

Match preview

Nigel Clough’s men arrive in confident mood, having strung together three straight victories in all competitions after a stumbling start to the new campaign.

Defeats to Burton Albion and Doncaster Rovers in the opening fortnight threatened to drag the Stags into early-season uncertainty, yet a change of fortune has swiftly restored momentum.

A 2-0 win at Chesterfield in the EFL Cup was followed by a 2-1 triumph at Exeter City and then a composed 2-0 victory over Blackpool on home turf.

Such a turnaround leaves Mansfield sitting mid-table on six points from two league wins, and while early standings count for little, the sense is of a squad beginning to find its rhythm.

This season marks a chance for the Nottinghamshire side to improve on last term’s 17th-placed finish, their joint-lowest in recent years, and Clough has moved decisively in the transfer market to support that ambition.

Additions such as Ryan Sweeney, goalkeeper Liam Roberts and defender Kyle Knoyle have freshened the spine of the squad, while the experienced Jordan Bowery continues to provide leadership.

At the One Call Stadium, Mansfield’s home record has been mixed, with three wins and three defeats in their last six league outings here, yet the recent clean sheet against Blackpool hinted at growing resilience.

They have scored first in six of their last ten home matches, a statistic Clough will hope to extend against an opponent they have not beaten in their last four meetings.

Even so, with forward Will Evans already on two goals this term, the Stags carry enough firepower to trouble visitors of any standing.

For Leyton Orient, the summer was about recovery and recalibration following the heartbreak of missing out in last season’s playoff final.

Richie Wellens remains in charge and has seen his squad show flashes of resolve already in 2024-25, though inconsistency lingers in the early going.

A chastening 3-0 opening-day defeat to Huddersfield Town raised questions, but a 2-0 home win against Wigan Athletic provided a swift response before further ups and downs coloured their fortnight.

The EFL Cup exit at Wycombe Wanderers appeared to herald another setback, and when they fell 2-0 behind inside 36 minutes at Stockport County, the warning lights flashed again.

Yet Orient responded with courage, Aaron Connolly sparking the fightback before Ollie O’Neill levelled in stoppage time for a dramatic 2-2 draw.

That resilience carried into their midweek trip to Plymouth, where Josh Koroma’s strike helped secure a narrow 1-0 away win and extend their unbeaten run in the league to three matches.

Their form on the road remains encouraging, with four wins in their last six away fixtures in League One, scoring a dozen goals in the process.

They have not drawn any of those games, emphasising their willingness to take risks, and two of those wins came without conceding.

With Orient unbeaten in their last four clashes with Mansfield, including two clean sheets, Wellens’s men travel north with reason to believe their revival can continue.

Mansfield Town League One form:

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Mansfield Town form (all competitions):

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Leyton Orient League One form:

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Leyton Orient form (all competitions):

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Team News

Mansfield were polished against Blackpool last weekend, and Nigel Clough may be tempted to keep faith with the same XI.

Will Evans should spearhead the attack once more, flanked by George Maris and Davis Keillor-Dunn in support and with Liam Roberts providing assurance in goal.

Leyton Orient are hampered by the absence of Zech Obiero, the midfielder ruled out for up to twelve weeks after sustaining a knee injury in last week’s EFL Cup clash.

Tyreeq Bakinson was handed a start in midweek after setting up O’Neill’s equaliser against Stockport and is expected to retain his place.

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Roberts; Knoyle, Bowery, Cargill, Blake-Tracy; McDonnell, Reed; Bolton, Maris, Hendry; Evans

Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:

Simkin; James, Beckles, Happe, Adaramola; Jaiyesimi, Bakinson, El Mizouni; Koroma, O’Neill, Connolly

We say: Mansfield Town 1-2 Leyton Orient

Mansfield have put early-season wobbles behind them and look sharper in front of their own fans, yet Leyton Orient have shown resilience on the road and remain unbeaten in their last four meetings with the Stags.

With Connolly in form and Wellens’s men beginning to click, the visitors could edge a tight contest.

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