Leyton Orient deserved more against Barnsley says boss

Joe Pigott fired O’s in front from the penalty spot, but Herbie Kane hit back midway through the second half as it ended all square in a 1-1 draw.

And Wellens was disappointed to finish with a share of the spoils at a lively Brisbane Road.

“It was a really good performance, a good game, two good teams,” he told the club website.

“I think both teams found it difficult to get the ball back off each other, unless it was a mistake.

“The goal is disappointing, it’s a worldie strike, but we know their eights cheat. When we’re attacking, we know they’re slow to recover and it can be a threat if the ball turns over.

“It’s a great reverse pass into him, good touch, nice setback and it’s a great finish.

“I think all in all we deserved the three points. You only have to look at the feel at the end of the game – they’re delighted with a point and we’re gutted with a point.

“It shows how far we’ve come. They’re a good team and will be right in amongst it.

“But tactically, athletic-wise, quality-wise, I thought we were better than them at times.”

O’s were awarded their penalty when referee Peter Wright ruled Ruel Sotiriou’s shot had been handled by Jamie McCart, with Pigott slotting home after protests from the visitors.

And Wellens had some sympathy with his opposite number, adding: “I thought it was harsh at the time, I thought it was good defending and went for a goal kick.

“We’re probably due one. We’ve had probably six penalties, blatant penalties, this year and we’ve not had one.

“It’s sod’s law you get one you probably don’t deserve.”

But the home side could not capitalise on further chances and were made to pay as Kane fired home from 20 yards, to the frustration of Wellens.

“We was knocking on the door, there was a lot of opportunities, first half we was excellent,” he said.

“They came out first 10 minutes of the second half and was very good. But after that I thought we were dominant, the amount of crosses, penalty-box entries we got.

“We just have to move with the ball better, shift better, and get on the end of ricochets. There’s too many balls bouncing in the box.

“If we want to escalate ourselves and get to the top end of this division we need to score more goals.”