Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens admits Barrow AFC’s appointment of Phil Brown this week makes their set-up harder to predict.

The Os are the first opponents for the Bluebirds under new manager Brown today.

And Wellens, who has inspired a turnaround at the London club, says second-guessing Barrow now is more difficult.

“I like Phil – he made me suffer my first defeat as a manager; things were going swimmingly well, six or seven unbeaten, and then he gave me a bit of a lesson,” said Wellens in a club interview.

“He’s a good guy, he’s managed in the Premier League, I’m pleased for him he’s back in the game.

“It gives us a bit of a problem because we don’t know how they’re going to plan.

“Usually a new manger wants his own ideas and maybe changes system.

“But at this stage we can concentrate on us and that will hold us in good stead.”

Orient, like Barrow, recently opted for a change of manager in a bid to escape relegation trouble.

After succeeding Kenny Jackett, Wellens has ended a long winless run with back-to-back victories over Rochdale and Harrogate.

They sit 17th, six points above Brown’s Bluebirds, who are themselves six points above the relegation zone.

“The way we’ve played is really positive, to score six goals in two games is really good and we could have scored more,” added Wellens, who said Aaron Drinan and Hector Kyprianou should be fit despite knocks.