Leyton Orient will look to bounce back from their playoff heartache last season as they face a tricky trip in Yorkshire to take on Huddersfield Town.
Richie Wellens’s side finished their league campaign strongly last term, as five successive victories saw them clinch the final playoff spot, three points clear of seventh-placed Reading.
That set up a tie with third-placed Stockport County in the semi-finals, and after 2-2 and 1-1 draws in both legs, The O’s reached Wembley after overcoming The Hatters on penalties.
However, Leyton Orient’s hopes of reaching the Championship were ended by local rivals Charlton, as The Addicks won 1-0 on an afternoon our man The Betting Desk landed a full-house of winners.
Huddersfield, on the other hand, endured an underwhelming season, as they finished in 10th position, 14 points behind their visitors.
That led to the sacking of Michael Duff, with ex-Derby County and Manchester United goalkeeper Lee Grant getting his first job in management.
How the bookies view it: Home success for Huddersfield?
Despite finishing 14 points behind their opponents last season, Huddersfield have been installed as favourites, with BoyleSports pricing them up at 10/11.
The O’s are 23/10 to leave Yorkshire with all three points, whilst a draw is 5/2.
Head to head: More success for the away side?
In their two meetings last season, it was the away team that won on both occasions. Huddersfield won 0-2 at Brisbane Road last November, whilst Orient won 1-4 at the John Smith’s on the final day of last season.
Players to watch: Debut goal for Alfie?
After helping guide Birmingham City to the League One title last season, Alfie May is the eye-catching arrival to the John Smith’s this summer. May scored 16 goals in League One for The Blues last season, and is an appealing 11/8 to get off the mark for The Terriors on Saturday.
Josh Koroma joined The O’s from Huddersfield in the summer and he will want to make an instant impact here. So often do we see players returning to their old ground and scoring, and he is 3/1 to net here.
Predicted line-ups:
Lee Grant may name a similar side to the one that started their recent friendly defeat to Burnley, with Alfie May expected to lead the line.
Richie Wellens may make a similar side to the one that started their 1-1 friendly draw with Watford, with new signings Aaron Connolly and Josh Koroma expected to make their competitive debuts.
Huddersfield Town: Goodman, Gooch, Whatmough, Low, Sway, Kasuma, Kane, Harness, Wiles, Roosken, May
Leyton Orient: Simkin, Adaramola, Happe, Edmonds-Green, James, El Mizouni, Bakinson, Koroma, Connolly, Perkins
Anything else catch the eye?
These two clubs met at this venue on the final day of last season, with Leyton Orient winning 1-4, and another high-scorer could be on the cards here.
Goals were a feature in Leyton Orient’s away matches in the second half of last season, with 12 of their final 14 road trips in the regular season seeing a minimum of three strikes, and a repeat here pays 4/5 at BoyleSports.
Each of The O’s previous seven road trips have seen goals at both ends, and that also appeals to me, with that also being priced up at 4/5, this time with BoyleSports.
GambleAware