Richie Wellens slates Leyton Orient for ‘sleepwalking’ into defeat at Rotherham

Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens took aim at his players by saying they “sleepwalked” into a 1-0 defeat by Rotherham.

Sam Nombe tapped home the winner in the second half and then the Millers fended off a late onslaught of corners to keep hold of three points.

Wellens said it was very much a case of too little, too late and felt his side showed complacency after last week registering a 4-0 win over Doncaster.

He said: “It was extremely poor. The first half was boring and there was no intent.

“Our back three can’t play. They are not good enough on the ball. They are not dynamic enough.

“We waited until we went 1-0 down before we turned up. We sleepwalked into defeat. The mentality is poor.

“It was a poor goal to give away.

“It was nowhere near good enough. I am gutted.

“I will take criticism all day long and the supporters know me by now but the players need to take a look in the mirror because over a period now it’s not been good enough.”

The first half saw very little in the way of goalmouth action and it was the Millers who responded better after the break.

Second-half introduction Nombe struck them ahead after Joe Rafferty’s clever clipped ball was headed into the danger zone by Jamal Baptiste.

Shaun McWilliams threatened to double the lead with a drilled shot.

Orient then piled on the pressure with a host of corners.

The best chances fell in quick succession as Omar Beckles’s powerful header was palmed out by Cameron Dawson and then Sonny Perkins’s effort was blocked.

Perkins also came close when Dawson spilled a cross but he hacked just wide and Rotherham clung on for all three points.

Millers manager Matt Hamshaw revealed illness has ravaged his squad so the three points were a very welcome boost.

Denzel Hall pulled out of the squad in the warm-up and loanee frontman Martin Sherif was another absentee.

Hamshaw said: “It’s a massive win.

“We have had illness in the camp and we’ve been decimated. Some lads have played through it but for some it was too much.

“I expected a bit of a flat performance but coming together in a tough period is what this club is all about.

“To put bodies on the line like we did. It was unbelievable character.

“They are throwing everything at us at the end.

“I am beyond happy to get those three points.

“The main thing is the character has pulled through.

“They are a good team with good players and I thought we quelled a lot of their threats.

“Huge credit has got to go to the players.”