League Two Preview: Leyton Orient face leaders Plymouth, Portsmouth travel to Blackpool

Leyton Orient wanted to establish new records this season, but probably not the one they set this week by dismissing manager Andy Hessenthaler in double-quick time.

By ending the five-month reign of Hessenthaler, they became the first team in the top four English divisions to part company with their boss.

The O’s have suffered back-to-back defeats and sit 14th, having won three of their nine league games this season.

They will hope this decisive move will help turn things around before too much ground is lost on their competitors. Caretaker boss, assistant manager Andy Edwards, couldn’t have asked for a trickier start as his side host leaders Plymouth Argyle at Brisbane Road.

Former Leyton Orient boss, Hessenthaler – Photo: Steve Bardens / Offside.

Plymouth drew with Hartlepool United at the weekend, but the point was enough to keep them top of the pile – news this week that they are to re-purchase Home Park for £1.7m will also have buoyed up supporters of the West Country giants.

Rivals Portsmouth romped to a 5-1 victory against Barnet, but they are still sit two points shy of the Pilgrims. Pompey travel to last season’s whipping boys Blackpool, against a team currently sitting in a healthy enough 16th given what’s happened in the past couple of years to the Tangerines.

Luton Town’s 3-1 win against Doncaster Rovers last time out was enough to edge the Hatters above Rovers into third place, by a single goal’s difference – they’ll want to improve on Plymouth’s efforts last week as they take their turn in travelling to take on Hartlepool, with Doncaster knowing that defeat at home to Carlisle will also see the Cumbrians overtake them.

At the bottom of the table, last placed Cambridge United welcome 19th placed Yeovil Town to the Abbey Stadium.

This is bound to be a tense affair, but the Glovers come into the game after enjoying a 4-2 win against similarly relegation threatened Cheltenham Town, so will feel they know how to get the result they need to move further away from danger – Cambridge though saw off a Newport County side by the odd goal, so will also feel things are improving.

Cheltenham meanwhile host Stevenage, a team only a short three-point jump ahead of them, with all to play for. Whilst Newport County try to get things back on track with a challenging looking visit to Grimsby Town.

Full League Two fixture list:

Accrington vs Mansfield

Blackpool vs Portsmouth

Cambridge vs Yeovil

Cheltenham vs Stevenage

Crawley vs Colchester

Doncaster vs Carlisle

Exeter vs Notts County

Grimsby vs Newport

Hartlepool vs Luton

Leyton Orient vs Plymouth

Wycombe vs Crewe

Barnet vs Morecambe