We need to respond says Leyton Orient boss Wellens

The League Two leaders slumped to a 3-0 defeat at nearest rivals Stevenage last weekend and saw their lead cut to five points, with their rivals having a game in hand.

Tranmere sit down in 15th place, having not played since January 14, and Wellens wants his players to bounce back quickly.

“We need to respond and we need to get back on the bike so to speak,” he told the club website.

“Away games in this league are tough but I still think we’ve got the best away record in the league, so just respond, look yourself in the mirror, respond in the right way, keep your head up and focus on what we need to do and that’s a good performance and three points at Tranmere.”

O’s found themselves two goals down in just 11 minutes at the Lamex Stadium, as Jamie Reid and Jordan Roberts got Stevenage off to a flying start.

Idriz El Mizouni was second off for two bookable offences before half-time, with Luke Norris adding a third goal for the home side in stoppage time.

And Wellens admitted his side had been ‘nowhere near good enough’ on the day.

“First and foremost I want the players to react for themselves, because under no circumstances was we happy about the performance,” he added.

“Everybody at the club, myself at the head of that, look in the mirror, what did we do right, what did we do wrong? We’ve done a hell of a lot of things right this season, but on Saturday it didn’t go our way.

“So look at yourself in the mirror, reflect and respond and come out fighting and try and get a positive result.”

O’s will no doubt be cheered on by their large travelling support once again at Prenton Park and Wellens wants to give them something to cheer, having seen many leave before the final whistle last weekend.

“At the end of the day, the reason why I work and the reason the footballers want to play football, two years ago we had Covid,” he said.

“I managed during Covid, it was the worst thing, you didn’t want to manage. There was no motivation, there was no supporters there.

“So the reason that I do my job and the reason why the players want to do their job and what makes it special is because we do it for the supporters.”