Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon kick off their EFL Trophy campaigns on Tuesday evening with a Southern section Group F clash at Brisbane Road.
Both clubs made it through to the knockout stages last season, with the O’s going out to Plymouth in the regional round of 32 and the Dons making it all the way to the Southern quarter-finals before exiting at the hands of Northampton.
The teams look closely matched on paper with Wimbledon finishing 19th - one place higher with one point more than Orient - in League One in 2025/26.
Both teams suffered defeats on the opening weekend of the league season with Orient undone by Sheffield Wednesday’s second-half comeback at home while Wimbledon were beaten 3-0 on the road at Huddersfield Town.
Each club will be looking to bounce back and gain some momentum, albeit with much-changed sides expected at this stage of the competition.
Leyton Orient v AFC Wimbledon Tips Summary
Best Bet - Over 2.5 goals @ 4/7
Alternative Bet - Both teams to score in the 1st half @ 11/4
Bet Builder - Leyton Orient to win, both teams to score & most goals in 1st half @ 17/2
Leyton Orient v AFC Wimbledon Prediction
Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ 4/7
If current form and recent history are any indication, supporters at Brisbane Road should expect plenty of entertainment on Tuesday.
Both clubs have been reliable goal contributors in this competition with the Orient scoring six goals and conceding twice in last season’s group stage, as the Dons racked up a remarkable 16 goals for and 12 against in their six EFL Trophy matches.
Richie Wellens’ Orient typically play on the front foot at home, pressing high and committing numbers forward.
Wimbledon, meanwhile, love to counter-attack and are adept at transitioning quickly and directly whenever space opens up.
With both managers likely to rotate but still field competitive sides, this feels like a perfect storm for goals.
Wellens’ son Charlie looks set to start in midfield and his set-piece prowess only increases the likelihood of a few goals.
He scored directly from a 30-yard free-kick against Peterborough last term and recently found the top corner from a set-piece in the pre-season friendly at Waltham Abbey.
Alternative Bet: Both teams to score in the 1st half @ 11/4
Both teams have scored in eight of Orient’s last nine EFL Trophy group-stage matches, while Wimbledon’s last six games in this competition have featured goals at both ends.
Even their League One meetings last season followed the same pattern, with both teams scoring in both fixtures.
The trend for goals to come early on in games is also strong for both clubs. The O’s often start fast at home, while Wimbledon’s direct approach means they can threaten immediately.
It was 1-1 at the break when the sides last met at Brisbane Road and 2-1 to Wimbledon when the referee blew his whistle for the interval at Plough Lane last term.
The O’s scored and conceded before the break against the Owls last weekend and there seem solid prospects for the net to bulge at both ends prior to half-time again.
Leyton Orient v AFC Wimbledon Bet Builder
Leyton Orient to win
Both teams to score
Most Goals in 1st Half
Pays 17/2
Orient’s home advantage and deeper squad should give them the edge in this clash, so a win for the O’s starts off this bet builder.
There is a strong likelihood of goals at both ends given Wimbledon’s record in this competition last term, when all six of their games had both teams scoring.
The first half is the most likely period for goals, given both teams’ fast starts and the nature of EFL Trophy rotation, which often produces chaotic early phases.
Key Match Stats
Both teams to score has landed in eight of Leyton Orient’s last nine EFL Trophy group‑stage matches
Both teams have scored in Wimbledon’s last six EFL Trophy matches
Both teams scored in both League One meetings last season
Orient have scored 2+ goals in four of their last five home Trophy games
Wimbledon have scored in nine straight EFL Trophy fixtures
Both teams scored before half-time in two of the O’s group-stage games last season
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
