Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens has accused his side of “cheating our supporters” after their 2-1 defeat at Burton Albion. He questioned the fitness of several players and admitted the O’s are currently falling short of the standard required to challenge for the League One play-offs.

Orient surrendered a half-time lead at the Pirelli Stadium, with Will Collar’s late winner leaving them 15th in the table. They sit six points outside the top six, but Wellens believes their inconsistency and physical condition are preventing them from pushing higher.

Speaking to BBC Radio London, the Orient manager pointed to the manner of Burton’s goals as evidence of those shortcomings. Both came from quick breaks, with Caylan Vickers providing the assists.

“Their two goals are two counter attacks where we can’t run back. Physically [it was] very disappointing.

“[We’re] so inconsistent in our basics and at the moment I think we’re cheating our supporters. I think we’re letting them down massively.

“Everybody wants us to take the next step and get in and around the top eight, top six in this league but at the moment we’re not good enough to do that.

“We’re not consistent enough and the fitness levels are nowhere near [the level required], some of them.”

Summer Arrivals Still Building Fitness

Wellens highlighted the difficulties facing deadline-day arrivals Dane Scarlett and Alex Gilbert, neither of whom had completed a full pre-season. He explained that competitive fixtures are having to provide the minutes they need, with attempts to arrange additional matches proving unsuccessful.

Gilbert had given Orient the lead with a free-kick from around 35 yards, but Wellens felt both players were visibly tiring as Saturday’s match wore on. He suggested the problem extended beyond the pair.

“We can’t arrange [friendly] games because no-one wants games at this time.

“You look at Dane in the last five or six minutes, he’s knackered, he can’t run.

“Alex has been great since he came in, but again he looked knackered towards the end and there’s three or four others that have to do their pre-season now.

“It’s the only way that we can get minutes in the legs and it shows massively.”

Burton Punish Orient After The Break

Orient’s advantage had owed plenty to Nathan Baxter, who denied Vickers, Charlie Webster and Harvey Araujo before Gilbert’s 33rd-minute opener. The goalkeeper’s saves allowed the visitors to reach the interval ahead, despite Burton creating the better early opportunities.

The hosts levelled in the 56th minute when Vickers drove through the middle and released Kegs Chauke, who cut inside before finishing. Orient substitute Aaron Connolly later went close, but Burton completed the turnaround with four minutes remaining.

Vickers was again the provider, breaking into the penalty area and setting up Collar for his first Burton goal. The result ended the Brewers’ four-match wait for a victory and left Wellens delivering a blunt assessment of his own side’s progress.