Leyton Orient boss hails pleasing clean sheet and win

Ruel Sotiriou’s 21st-minute goal proved decisive at Brunton Park, earning O’s maximum points for their 600-mile round trip.

And Wellens admitted the result was the most important thing on the day.

RECAP: https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/sport/23856057.league-one-carlisle-united-0-leyton-orient-1—match-report/

“It’s a good win, it’s a tough place to go,” he told the club website. 

“It took us six and a half hours to get here and it’s a tough place to come because of the crowd. They do stick by them, and they’re a tough team to play against.

“Pleasing clean sheet and pleasing win.”

Idris El Mizouni hit the crossbar, before Joe Pigott’s through ball sent Sotiriou in on goal to round keeper Tomas Holy and slot home.

But although pleased to see the move come off, Wellens was disappointed at how the game developed.

“He [Pigott]s got that ability, we trust him when he drops into them pockets, especially higher up the pitch,” he added.

“He takes it on the back foot, he doesn’t dwell on it or take too many touches. I think Sully could’ve had a hat-trick today. He was bright.

“It was something we’d worked on but we only did it once or twice.

“We were nowhere near cohesive enough and from a moment when we should’ve been two or three up easily, the game became long balls, set-plays, give free-kicks away.

“They turned it into the game they wanted, they stayed in the game well enough.

“If we show any amount of calmness in the second half, they’re open to get them on the counter-attack, we just never showed that calmness.”

Joe Garner headed a good chance over for the hosts early in the second half and Sol Brynn pushed Terry Ablade’s effort onto the outside of a post.

And Wellens praised his defenders, adding: “Our back three were really good. Brandon, Dan Happe, Ed [Turns] until he picked up a little niggle and then TJ [Tom James], I thought we defended our box really well.

“And when they broke our line we had Sol there to do what Sol does best.

“Defensively it was an okay performance, I still want us to get more pressure. If you just sink into your box it becomes difficult, they’re overloading the box in the last 10 minutes.

“The back three were probably our best players.”

More than 400 fans made the trip to the border town and Wellens was glad to send them home in happy mood.

“Brilliant. And the players go over at the end to recognise and appreciate the support,” he said.

“Our supporters all the time are fantastic. It is a long trip and hopefully they can have a few beers on the train on the way home.

“It was a dogged performance, at spells a bit lucky because if the ball bounces for Carlisle they can nick something from it, in a game we should’ve been two or three goals in front.”