Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens was delighted to see their long wait for a League One win come to an end at Cheltenham.

O's had gone eight games without a victory since their 1-0 triumph at Carlisle in mid-October, but came from behind to claim a 2-1 success against the basement boys.

And Wellens admitted it was not their best display, but the result was the most important thing.

"I'm pleased for the supporters because it's been a long time coming," he told the club website.

"We have performed a lot better than that, football is mad isn't it.

"We needed that little bit of luck but I also think in the last three or four weeks, probably from the Barnsley game, maybe Burton, Jordan Graham's injury, I don't think we've had a lot of luck.

"But I'm a big believer if you work and you run and you fight and scrap - we kept going.

"When you start making good decisions, it's mad, you believe, the momentum shifts and you get the just rewards for that.

"If you just drift through games making bad decisions, then you never get in that rhythm.

"You don't get them ricochets or the little bits that go for you."

Sean Long sent an early chance over for the hosts, who were reduced to 10 men on 18 minutes when Ben Williams was sent off for two bookable offences after fouls on Jordan Brown and Ruel Sotiriou.

George Moncur had an effort blocked and Darren Pratley headed against the crossbar, before Sol Brynn had to make a diving save from Will Goodwin on the hour.

But Goodwin struck from the spot after being tripped by Pratley, only for O's to snatch two late goals.

Shaq Forde's shot was deflected into his own net by Long in the last minute of normal time, before Ethan Galbraith fired home in the fourth minute of stoppage time to secure all three points. 

"I'm pleased for the supporters, I hope they have a good weekend," added Wellens.

"We've had so many good days here, we want to give them more. But they have to understand we're a work in progress, we're getting more experience at this level and more belief, but we still need a couple more players to add to the squad.

"We give them a good day, the fact we won in the 90th minute feels great but I'm really balanced in my opinion of what I've seen, I'm trying to stay performance-related."

The win lifted O's up to 14th in the table ahead of a trip to Bolton on Saturday.
They host Charlton at Brisbane Road on Boxing Day, then end 2023 with another home fixture against Wycombe on December 29.