Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens has publicly accepted responsibility for tactical mistakes that have undermined his team's defensive stability. The admission follows a disciplined 0-0 draw at Bradford City, a result that extended Orient's unbeaten away run in League One this season.
Wellens stated he concentrated too heavily on implementing attacking patterns with his rebuilt squad, neglecting fundamental defensive organisation. "I forgot to do the foundations and defensive stuff," the head coach said. He believes this approach has been particularly costly at home, where an overly aggressive mentality has left the side exposed. Leyton Orient have lost four of their opening five league fixtures at Brisbane Road.
In contrast, the team has been far more compact on their travels. The point at Bradford was their fourth away game without defeat this season, with just one goal conceded in those matches. To achieve it, Wellens switched to a back five, recalling James Morris to the starting line-up. Morris delivered a solid defensive performance, including a key late headed clearance under pressure.
Other selection changes saw Dane Scarlett handed his first start for the club, while Idris El Mizouni was omitted due to performances falling below his usual standards. Wellens emphasised that reputation alone would not guarantee a place.
The need for greater attacking output remains, but Wellens recognises it must not come at the expense of the defensive shape that proved effective at Bradford. Players like Jaze Kabia, the club's top scorer this season with four goals in six appearances, and Yusuf Akhamrich are tasked with rediscovering their early-season influence. The returning fitness of Aaron Connolly should also provide another option.
Leyton Orient's league position provides context for this period of adjustment. They currently sit 9th in the League One standings with 14 points from 10 games. Their form has been mixed, with a recent sequence of results reading win, draw, loss, win, loss. A significant recent boost was a 2-0 home victory over Blackpool, where William Forrester and Dane Scarlett, from the penalty spot, were on target.
That result against Blackpool, coming after the Bradford draw, suggests the lessons from Wellens's reflection may already be taking hold. The focus now shifts to building consistency, starting with the next challenge. Leyton Orient travel to face 7th-placed Reading on Wednesday, 21 October, as they look to climb the table.
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