Richie Wellens hoping comeback win can transform Leyton Orient’s season

Richie Wellens hopes Leyton Orient’s 2-1 League One comeback victory at home to Exeter can transform their season.

Second-half goals from Idris El Mizouni and Tyreeq Bakinson saw the O’s overturn Jayden Wareham’s penalty opener.

The win moved Orient from fifth-bottom to 16th and put them five points clear of the drop zone.

The O’s were in a similar position this time last season and ended up at Wembley as the third tier’s beaten play-off finalists.

Manager Wellens was hopeful therefore of a similar spark to get them upwardly mobile again.

He said: “I spoke to the players and said that every season we need moments where there is a turning point for the team and for individuals.

“It was a really good performance all round. We dominated the ball the majority of the time, although I would like more shots on their goal.

“We never panicked, we stayed patient and got back in the game. Hopefully that can be a turning point.”

Exeter dropped to 20th, two points ahead of fourth-bottom Blackpool, after luck deserted them in the 75th minute.

Wareham’s 38th-minute penalty came after Sean Clare had sent Reece Cole tumbling in the box.

And Cole had a great chance to double the lead with 15 minutes remaining, but after his initial shot was parried by O’s goalkeeper Killian Cahill, he headed the rebound on to a post.

A minute later, an error at the back allowed El Mizouni to level after City goalkeeper Joe Whitworth had parried his initial shot straight back to him.

Grecians manager Gary Caldwell said: “The league table is the league table – it only matters in May.

“We have to focus on the block that we are in currently. We have to focus on performance and for 74 minutes there were positives.

“We have to focus on the mistakes we made in the last 20 minutes, where we have to be clear on what the game plan looks like and how we are going to win the game.

“We said before the game ‘be careful with internal passes’ and ultimately we gifted them the first goal by playing inside the pitch – which was something we didn’t work on for this game. Today it wasn’t part of the plan.”

Bakinson smashed Orient ahead in the 81st minute to complete the comeback. Jack Simpson headed Charlie Wellens’ cross to the substitute, who executed a fine volley.

It was his first O’s goal since signing from Wycombe in the summer and Wellens added: “Obviously his career hasn’t started the way he would have wanted it to but there’s a top player in there.

“Hopefully that can be a springboard for him – there’s more goals in him.”