Leyton Orient have one advantage over Reading FC, Bolton & Charlton this week in play-off chase | OneFootball

Leyton Orient have to get themselves back into the play-off hunt by capitalising on mid-week fixtures.

Leyton Orient have had heavy fixture congestion this season.

The O's haven't had a full week's break between League One fixtures since early November.

Progression in all three domestic cup competitions, combined with a number of postponed matches during international breaks, has led to a pile-up of fixtures which saw the O's take on four of the top six within 14 days in late February.

Now, for the first time in months, Orient get to have a full week to train and prepare, while play-off rivals Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers and Reading have had to deal with midweek fixtures. A clear advantage for the East Londoners.

Leyton Orient are currently in extremely poor form

The O's last beat Wrexham in mid-February but have since been defeated in every league fixture since.

These defeats have proven costly, as the O's have slipped further down the table and now sit ninth and are seven points off the play-off places following Bolton's defeat at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.

Following Orient's defeat against Northampton on Saturday, Richie Wellens spoke about the fixture congestion leading to this poor run of results.

He commented: "I'll give the players three days off now. The performances have been okay, but that was one game too many.

"The performance levels have dropped hugely, not just the energy but their performances, and I think you can see that the decision-making - tired minds, tired bodies on the pitch today."

"We just need to reset. It's been difficult to reset because of the schedule we've had. A lot of our performances have been tired, lethargic performances. That first half was the worst of the lot."

Wellens' comments, while they might seem like complaints, sum up the difficult run of fixtures that Orient have had to manage in recent weeks and months.

Leyton Orient need to adapt to recent results

Following from Bolton's midweek defeat, the O's sit ninth and seven points outside the play-off places. However, both Charlton and Reading picked up crucial wins - the Royals, in particular, defeating a Wrexham side who hadn't lost away from home since New Year's Day.

Orient do boast another advantage on Saturday, as while they head to Blackpool - who have the below-average home record in League One this season - Bolton have to face fellow play-off contenders Stockport County in a match that could give the O's a more definitive view of the top six.

The O's will be looking to return to winning ways in an effort to restart their play-off push that seems to have disappeared out of nowhere.

If Wellens and his coaching staff can use the longer breaks between matches as a way to re-motivate the side and get them fully fit for the last ten games of the season, Orient have a real opportunity to make a statement this season and earn themselves a date at Wembley Stadium in May.