Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens has paid Derby County the ultimate compliment by claiming they are one of the “best clubs” in the country.
The two clubs face each other at Brisbane Road tomorrow for a fascinating FA Cup third round clash which kicks off at 6pm. Derby did the double over Orient on their way to promotion last season but now face a side who have hit excellent form in League One coming into the game.
Wellens appreciates that while some Orient fans were not overly enthused with the draw, he says it does not detract from Derby’s status as a club.
“When the draw was made, it was not an attractive tie for a lot of our supporters because we played Derby last season,” he said. “But you have to look at the fact that it’s a brilliant football club and historically it’s one of the best football clubs in the country.
“For me, it’s bigger than some of the Premier League clubs. It’s striving to get back there. It’s a brilliant club, it’s a good tie and one of the traditional football teams in England. It’s a game we will be trying to win.”
Derby beat Orient 3-0 in their last meeting in April, and they went on to secure their first promotion in 17 years under head coach Paul Warne. They are currently four points above the drop zone in the Championship and face a pivotal month in terms of trying to strengthen the squad.
But Wellens says the reality for Derby is that while they boasted the best players in the division last season, that is not the case this year.
“Not much has changed, but if you’re Derby in League One, then you are expected to win every week. As soon as those players go up to the Championship, they’re not the best players in the league any more.
“They have found it a lot tougher, but I am sure over the next few transfer windows they will be looking to improve. Historically, when Derby have gone from the Premier League to the Championship, they are looking to get straight back. It’s a difficult team for us to play against.”
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