Leyton Orient vs Rotherham Prediction – The Championship beckons for the playoff final winners

Were you to look at the league in the September, you would be forgiven for thinking that Leyton Orient would already have promotion to the Championship tied up by now. Instead, they were unable to maintain a consistency and find themselves coming up against a Steve Evans’s battling Rotherham side. For either team, promotion to the league above would be huge: Leyton Orient will be hoping for all the fans they can muster as neighbours West Ham are set to move in to the now empty Olympic Stadium right on their doorstep, while Rotherham, will be looking for support in what is traditionally a rugby town. With both teams squaring off with nominal 4-4-2 formations, the fitness, desire and coaching of the players in question could be the real difference rather than any particular tactical masterstroke. As the season essentially turns from a league into a cup competition, the ability to get a result in a one off match might even come down to a motivational issue.

Form

Leyton Orient made use of their home advantage in the playoff second leg as they saw off Peterborough. Taking a one all draw back to the Matchroom Stadium, many fans might consider the Wembley venue for the final to be a similar home ground. In terms of the last games of the league season, Orient finished with two wins. This might have been enough to carry some energy and form into the playoff matches, despite two losses in the games prior. A loss to Steve Evans’s former side Crawley could well be an indication of things to come.

After achieving a similar results to Orient in their opening playoff match, Rotherham were able to take a one all draw home and convincingly beat Preston to make the final. Finishing the league season in a similar fashion to their final opponents, the form table would give them a slight edge in the previous rounds of games, with more goals scored and fewer conceded. The Wembley location might not be too big of a deciding factor, however, with both teams being able to perform well away from home over the course of the season.

Team News

Odubajo and Cox will look to be the key players for Leyton Orient as the manager will want to stick with the team which managed to overturn Peterborough. A reunion for the midfield pairing of Vincelot and James should be on the card and they will look to spread the ball wide. With no fresh injury concerns and a fair amount of time to recover fitness, the side will likely be as strong as possible going into the season’s most important game.

Manager Steve Clarke had talked before the playoffs about a selection headache and a good result against Preston will likely have helped shape his plans. After winning 3-1, the manager is likely to stick with the same side who served him so well in the previous round. Thomas and Revell should start up front and pose a threat to the Orient defence while Morgan and Arnaon will resume their partnership at the back.

Leyton Orient

P49 W26 D13 L10

WWDDW

Predicted Line-Up (4-4-2): Jones; Cuthbert, Baudry, Clarke, Omozusi; Obubajo, Vincelot, James, Cox; Lisbie, Mooney

Rotherham

P49 W25 D16 L08

DWDDW

Predicted Line-Up (4-4-2): Collin; Tavernier, Arnason, Morgan, Skarz; Agard, Frecklington, Smallwood, Pringle; Thomas, Revell

Prediction: Leyton Orient 2-1 Rotherham

A tight game with Orient perhaps edging their way ahead thanks to the larger local backing.