We gave up at half-time – Dave Challinor fumes at Stockport showing

Stockport manager Dave Challinor launched a furious attack on the attitude of his players following their 2-2 at Leyton Orient.

County let a two-goal half-time lead slip as an Aaron Connolly strike and a stoppage-time equaliser from Ollie O’Neill cancelled out efforts from Nathan Lowe and Joseph Olowu.

A raging Challinor said: “The players went out in the second half and they decided what they wanted to do in the game.

“If that’s the case then they’re at the wrong football club under the wrong manager.

“Leyton Orient made us change things and we gave up at half-time. Based on 70 minutes of that game we didn’t deserve anything.

“It’s down to the negative mentality of the players, which may explain why some are here at Stockport and haven’t been more successful.

“If teams do something different against you, in my eyes you have to defend properly, to be the right side of the ball. “

Stockport had looked on course for their fourth win in a row in all competitions when early substitute Lowe headed Corey O’Keefe’s cross from the right past Tommy Simkin in the 28th minute and Olowu scored with a diving header from an Ollie Norwood delivery eight minutes later.

Olowu nearly added a third three minutes before the break when he fired straight at Simkin from point-blank range.

But Orient hit back after 57 minutes when Connolly scored with a first-time finish from an O’Neill pass before, with seven minutes of added time being played, O’Neill sprung the offside trap to equalise.

Orient boss Richie Wellens thought the result was a fair reflection of the way his side played, especially after the interval.

He said: “When you’re 2-0 down against a good team and you equalise then it’s a point gained. But I thought we dominated all aspects of the game.

“The momentum had been with us for half-an-hour, but we didn’t get shots on target. They had their momentum swing and they got two goals.

“At half-time you’re looking for a reaction. We’re still a developing team, we’re still emerging, but the response was fantastic.

“Sometimes it’s good to come on as a sub when you’re getting beat, because you’ve got nothing to lose.

“With Aaron Connolly getting off the mark, for me there’s an inevitability for him scoring a goal.”