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

Two of the sides currently holding a playoff place in League Two go head to head at Holker Street on Saturday, when Barrow host Leyton Orient.

Neither side were expected to be fighting for a spot this high up the table before the season started, but will look to continue their fine starts to the new campaign when they meet this weekend nonetheless.

Match preview

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After finishing just two places and five points above the relegation places in 2020-21, Barrow will be the more surprised of the two teams this weekend, but with the past now behind them, their focus will remain on taking one game at a time.

An initial slow start for the new manager Mark Cooper saw the Bluebirds win just one of their opening five league fixtures this season, but they have since followed that up with three wins from the next five.

Although two of those arrived against early strugglers at the wrong end of the table - Oldham Athletic and Mansfield Town - the signs of an improved season this time around are certainly there for the manager to see.

One of those victories was achieved last weekend, when Barrow overcame Mansfield at the One Call Stadium thanks to a second-half penalty from Oliver Banks.

The visitors saw less of the ball but will feel they deserved their victory after creating a host of clear-cut chances and putting in a solid defensive performance, particularly from young defender Joe Grayson.

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Meanwhile, Leyton Orient head to Holker Street positioned nicely in fourth place as it stands, three places and one point above their opponents this weekend.

Since returning to the football league in 2019-20, the O's have achieved solid finishes around mid-table in their two seasons, and now look set to continue their upward trajectory in recent years if they can continue their fine form this year.

After two disappointing results in the last two league outings have seen Orient pick up just one point, Saturday's away side did manage to bounce back in midweek when they defeated fellow League Two outfit Crawley Town 4-0 in the EFL Trophy.

Dominating from start to finish, a brace from Ruel Sotiriou, as well as goals from Dan Happe and Dan Kemp, saw Kenny Jackett's men comfortably return to winning ways.

Now Jackett will be looking for his side to put in a similar performance on Saturday after suffering a damaging setback in league action away to Port Vale last weekend, where Orient conceded two goals in second-half injury time to surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 instead.

Team News

Last weekend's match-winner Banks will be missing for the hosts on Saturday, as he is forced to sit out with a one-match suspension after picking up an accumulation of five yellow cards this season.

Dimitri Sea has missed the last couple of games with a hamstring problem, and he remains in doubt for this one too, but Remeao Hutton will be back available after missing the midweek EFL Trophy tie due to the birth of his child.

However, Tom Beadling, Connor Brown, Jamie Devitt, Luke James, Michael Jones, Kgosi Ntlhe and Matthew Platt all remain ruled out through various injuries, to leave the manager with a thin squad to choose from.

As for the visitors, striker Paul Smyth will be unavailable after being called up for international duty with Northern Ireland.

After making seven changes for the cup tie in midweek, Jackett will have a selection headache after an impressive performance and victory from his rotated side.

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; J Jones, Ellis, Grayson; Hutton, Taylor, Gotts, Brough; Stevens; Gordon, Kay

Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Vigouroux; Ogie, Beckles, Happe; James, Kyprianou, Pratley, Wood; Sotiriou, Smith, Kemp

We say: Barrow 1-1 Leyton Orient

The two sides head into Saturday's encounter in similar form, so the outcome is certainly a difficult one to predict. Because of this, we are sticking with a draw here, with very little to call between Barrow and Leyton Orient.

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