Teams are raising their game against us, says Wellens after Orient lose away for first time

Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens lamented an uncharacteristically flat first-half performance from his side in their 2-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon.

League Two leaders Orient conceded twice in the opening 35 minutes at Plough Lane, giving them too much to do in order to keep their unbeaten league away record intact.

Wellens was particularly frustrated with the manner of Ayoub Assal’s 19th-minute opening goal.

“We should stop it,” he said. “We shouldn’t allow a right-footed player on the left to come inside. “We’d had a warning a few minutes earlier.”

Assal’s goal was not the only source of frustration for the Orient boss though, as he also felt his side deviated from their regular game plan against a resurgent Dons outfit.

“There were two contrasting styles of football tonight,” he said. “In the first half we tried to play like they played, and they are better at it than us.

“They were taking advantage and slowing the game down, which I don’t blame them for doing but the referee shouldn’t allow it.”

The East Londoners remain three points clear at the top of the fourth-tier table despite the defeat, and Wellens stated that he thinks opponents are doubling their efforts in order to compete with his team.

“We’re there to be shot at, teams have to try and catch us,” he said. “Whenever we play, teams are raising their game against us.

“Newport beat us and lost their next three, Barrow played us and lost their next four or five. We have to be respectful of that and raise our own levels.”