THE TWO League One teams with the worst defensive records this season are due to face each other from 12.30pm on Saturday when Barnsley visit Leyton Orient.
The Os are 20th, one place and two points clear of the relegation zone, and five behind the Reds who have played two fewer games.
Orient have conceded 53 league goals this season, which is the most in the third tier, followed by Barnsley’s 52 having played two fewer matches.
They are also the two top-scoring sides in the bottom half of the table.
Head coach Conor Hourihane told the Chronicle: “The stats are there for people to see – we score loads and they score loads, and we both concede goals.
“Is it going to be 3-3, 4-4 or something mental?
“That’s what people probably feel. Let’s see what happens.
“The stats told us it would be high-scoring against Peterborough and there were a lot of chances but it was 2-1 which can happen against anyone.
“We have to take care of our own performance and mentality over everything else.”
Richie Wellens’ side were one of the form teams in the country in the second half of last season, charging from just above the relegation zone into the top six before losing to fellow London club Charlton Athletic in the play-off final.
But, after losing many of their star players such as Charlie Kelman and Ethan Galbraith in the summer, they are currently in a relegation fight.
A good run of home form put them in the top half at Christmas but they won one of ten with seven defeats which left them third-bottom last week.
They won 2-1 at fellow strugglers Northampton on Saturday, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
Orient striker Dom Ballard is the second top-scorer in the league with 16 goals.
Hourihane said: “Richie had an amazing season last season and was very, very close to going up.
“This year, there was a lot of changes in their squad and they have struggled to find that consistent rhythm – similar to ourselves. They are trying to grind out results.”
Barnsley have not won in eight away league games since a November victory at Doncaster Rovers which is their only success on the road in the league in 13 since August.
They have lost their last three at top six sides Cardiff City, Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town.
The Reds beat Orient 3-2 at home in December.
After Reyes Cleary opened the scoring, goalkeeper Murphy Cooper chested down a overhit Adam Phillips pass before conceding a penalty which Ballard converted then Orient went 2-1 up.
The Reds won it through late goals by the now departed Jon Russell and Davis Keillor-Dunn, with the latter courtesy of a bad error by visiting substitute Tom James.
The clubs have met 60 times, with Barnsley winning 25 and losing 24.
The Reds have only won three away games at Orient in 30 attempts, twice in the 1920s then in 1982, after which they have visited three times.
The match in London last April saw the Reds go 3-1 up but lose 4-3, after draws in 2015 and 2023.
