Orient set for 'season-defining' game - Wellens

Leyton Orient are one match away from the League One play-off final at Wembley

Leyton Orient's play-off visit to Stockport County will define their season and promotion to the Championship would put the club in an "unbelievable position", says O's head coach Richie Wellens.

The League One sides drew 2-2 in the first leg at Brisbane Road on Saturday and the winner of the tie will face Wycombe Wanderers or Charlton Athletic in the final at Wembley.

Orient finished the regular season sixth in the table, nine points below third-placed Stockport, and won their final six matches.

"We absolutely deserve it [to be in the play-offs]," Wellens told BBC Radio London.

"In the last 30 games of the League One season we've picked up 63 points. Only Charlton have matched us and only Birmingham are above us, so this has not been a one or two-month thing, this has been over a long period of time – 30 games is 70% of the season.

"The players have been absolutely fantastic. The fact we've done it not spending huge amounts of money, and developing young players as well as winning, the club can take huge amounts of satisfaction from that.

"We've come a long way in the last three years and to make it one more step to the Championship would put the club in an unbelievable position going forward."

'We've nothing to fear, we need to go for it'

Richie Wellens took charge of Leyton Orient in 2022

The O's are looking to secure their place at Wembley for the first time since the 2018-19 FA Trophy final defeat by AFC Fylde.

Wellens, who was appointed head coach in 2022, said they had not practiced penalties in preparation for a potential shootout at Edgeley Park.

His side have a 100% record in shootouts, against Colchester United, Boreham Wood and Derby County, this season.

"We've had penalty shootouts three times this year and we've not practiced. I don't think you can replicate the pressure. You can't replicate the mindset that the players go through," he said.

League One top scorer Charlie Kelman's 88th-minute penalty ensured the O's go into the second leg all square.

The on-loan QPR striker had given his side the lead in the first half, despite appearing to clearly be in an offside position, before Stockport hit back through an Oliver Norwood penalty and Fraser Horsfall's powerful header.

"We've got goals in our team, we've got nothing to fear [and] we need to go for it," Wellens added.

"We know that this is a season-defining game. We don't want the season to end on Wednesday.

"If we're at it, front-footed and really energeticm then I think we can prolong our season [by] one more game."