Richie Wellens expressed his confidence in leading a League One team to victory with a squad of Bolton’s caliber after witnessing his Leyton Orient side face defeat at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. The match saw Bolton Wanderers surge ahead with a rapid succession of goals from Josh Dacres-Cogley, Dion Charles, and George Thomason within the initial 10 minutes. Despite Shaq Forde and Theo Archibald’s second-half goals narrowing the gap, Orient fell short of securing an equalizer.
Addressing the press, as reported by The Bolton News, Wellens remarked on the challenging start: “After 15 minutes they were singing, ‘It’s only 3-0, how shit must you be?’ We have had two years of constant success and we’re going against Bolton Wanderers. We started poorly, we have to realize where we are going.”
Expressing his admiration for Bolton’s squad, Wellens stated, “I would love to be their manager with that squad. I would win the league with that squad! But we are where we are, and our supporters need to be patient and go through the process.”
Analyzing the game’s dynamics, Wellens pinpointed the initial struggles of his team, emphasizing the lack of pressure on the ball during the first 10 minutes. He highlighted the need for caution due to the threat posed by Bolton’s players exploiting gaps, especially when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson initiated plays, causing problems with the wing-backs and number eights.
Wellens acknowledged the tactical adjustments made to counter Bolton’s strengths, noting, “We worked on that, keeping the same side and our wing-back being narrow on their midfield, but Rob Hunt is too wide and the lad runs off and scores.” Despite the early setbacks, Wellens praised his team’s recovery, asserting that for the remainder of the first half, they outperformed their opponents.
Reflecting on the overall match, Wellens acknowledged the difficulty of facing a club like Bolton, which he believed should not be in League One. Despite Leyton Orient’s commendable performance during the game, Wellens emphasized the importance of avoiding a sluggish start in future matches.
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