Leyton Orient midfielder Craig Clay is keen for his side to make it four wins in a row when they face Mansfield Town on Saturday. The O’s have only lost once so far this season and the 29 year old is looking for his side to continue their form. Speaking to leytonorient.com “we’ve been in good form at the start of the season and picked up some good results home and away. We need to carry it on”.

Sit second on 15 points, four behind leaders Forest Green

The O’s made it three wins on the bounce last weekend with a 3-1 win at Bristol Rovers. Harry Smith, Theo Archibald and Aaron Drinan all netted in the first half before Brett Pitman hit an injury time consolation. Assistant manager Joe Gallen praised his sides performance to leytonorient.com “the players deserve all the credit, they performed as always very well. We’ve been looking to get an away win in the league and we came close at Newport. But we’re delighted to come away from here with all three points”.

Orient made it 16 goals for the season at Bristol Rovers with seven coming from set pieces so far and defender Omar Beckles highlighted he feels his side are a real threat from dead balls. Speaking to leytonorient.com the 29 year old stated “we fancy ourselves, we’ve got some big lads who want to attack it. Smudg (Harry Smith) is a handful, we think we will get quite a few this season from set plays. Joe gets on at us about restarts and we take pride in getting them right”.

Only Forest Green (18) have scored more than Orient

Orient have scored two or more goals in four consecutive League games for first time since April

Despite sitting in second spot, manager Kenny Jackett is keen to downplay the league table at this stage of the season. Speaking to leytonorient.com the former Portsmuth man was pleased his side have been scoring and creating a host of chances but knows there is plenty more to do. “The balance is there at the moment, we need to keep working at it. While the league position is nice there is still 100 points to play for. It is about getting the team right, setting them on a run through the winter. It is key to create a foundation”

Orient have four clean sheets in last five home games

Have kept two in last three home games

Clay, who is in his fifth season at the O’s, is one of only a few players who were involved in Orient’s champion winning season in 2018/2019, can see similar traits with the current group of players. Speaking to leytonorient.com “I’m loving life, there is a really good feeling about it this year, it is a great set of lads with everyone getting along with each other. I have feeling it could be a year of something special”.

Mansfield’s travelling squad includes Danny Johnson who hit 20 goals for the O’s last season and Orient know the threat he can pose. Despite the Stags poor recent form Jackett expects Nigel Clough’s men to be challenging at the top end at the back end of the season. Speaking to leytonorient.com “they were much fancied at the start of the season and I still think they will be up there. They are a good club with a good manager, 100% they will be up there and the tests don’t get much easier. They have one or two injury problems which they will get over and recover from”

Team News

Dan Happe should be fit after overcoming a back problem but Adam Thompson and Paul Smyth remain out. Jackett could name the same starting 11 for the third consecutive league game

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 27, Draw 13, Mansfield 14

Orient have only lost two of the last 15 meetings – W10 D3 L2

Orient have only lost one of last nine games at home – W7 D1 L1