Leyton Orient have a great opportunity to get back to winning ways this weekend at home to Doncaster Rovers.

The O’s were beaten away at Northampton Town last time out and will hope they can respond with all three points. Speaking after their loss to the Cobblers, boss Richie Wellens said he thought his side were the ‘better team’ and had loads of decisions in the game go against them. On the selection front, defender Omar Beckles was sent off so will be out of action against Donny with the dependable Dan Happe and Shadrach Ogie the most likely centre-back pairing on Saturday.

Orient have been the best team in League Two so far this season, hence their position at the top of the table, and they are 14 points clear of fourth. They have the ability to shut off opponents, are tough to break down and have the best defensive record in the division having only conceded 13 times in 24 games.

In addition, they have been brilliant at home and have lost just once in their first 12 outings at Brisbane Road which bodes well for their next game as they hunt for three points.

Doncaster have been hit and miss so far in this campaign and although they have won their last two, they will be under no illusion how tough their trip to the league leaders will be. They beat Carlisle United 2-1 last time out at home courtesy of goals from midfielder James Maxwell and winger Kyle Hurst and their manager Danny Schofield said afterwards that they ‘deserved’ the victory.

On the selection front, the Yorkshire club remain without defender Joseph Olowu and winger Jon Taylor which isn’t ideal. The latter picked up a knee injury on Boxing Day and needs to wait for the swelling to go down before getting a scan, with Hurst and Luke Molyneux playing in his position instead.

Doncaster are vulnerable to conceding goals so Orient’s host of attacking options like Paul Smyth, Charlie Kelman and Theo Archibald will be rubbing their hands together. They have leaked seven in their last three games and are fragile at the back. In addition, they have been beaten 3-0 by both Colchester United and Tranmere Rovers in two of their last three games away from home so they will be worried as they head down south to face the table toppers.

Mansfield Town will be eager to hit some form as they head into the second-half of the season and will be confident of beating an out of sorts Barrow.

The Stags lost 2-1 away at Walsall in their first game of 2023, with attacker Rhys Oates getting their goal, but had gone four matches unbeaten before their defeat at the Bescot Stadium. Speaking after that one, boss Nigel Clough said he had ‘mixed’ feelings and thought his team created ‘chances’ so if they can put in a similar performance this weekend they should have enough to pick up a win.

On the injury front, midfielder Ollie Clarke is sidelined but Mansfield have strong alternative options in the middle of the park such as George Lapslie, Stephen Quinn and Hiram Boateng which highlights their strength in depth. They also have useful players in attacking areas who are proven performers in League Two like Oates, Jordan Bowery and George Maris.

Apart from their loss to Walsall on New Year’s Day, result shave started to return for the Nottinghamshire outfit and they will be keen to put things right again as they aim for promotion. It is easy to forget that they reached the play-off final last term, but they remain a strong side and there are hints that they have the potential to do the same again.

Barrow’s bubble is starting to burst and they have slipped down to 10th in the table now. They drew 0-0 at home to 23rd position Rochdale in their last outing and couldn’t even score past one of the league’s worst defences. Their manager Pete Wild said it was a really ‘scrappy’ game and he must be worried about the demise of his team over recent times after such a promising start to the season.

The Bluebirds have no fresh injury concerns but have brought in winger Elliot Newby from Stockport County to add cover for the suspended Josh Kay and he could make his debut on Saturday at Field Mill. However, he lacks experience in the Football League and spent the first-half of this campaign on loan in non-league at Altrincham which shows his former employers didn’t rate him too highly.

Barrow are winless in their last five league games and have won just once in their last eight in all competitions and are in a bit of a rut at the moment. Their confidence will be at rock bottom and they won’t fancy their chances of going to get a win against a Mansfield outfit who seem to have turned a corner this winter.