A dogged display by Orient reaped spectacular rewards today as they booked a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup, dumping out Championship Swansea out at the Liberty Stadium.
An 87th minute own-goal howler by Tate as he attempted to clear Mpoku’s cross sunk Swansea, after Jimmy Smith’s first half header had given the O’s a shock, short lead.
This display was typical of the spirit boss Russell Slade has instilled in the team. The O’s seem to have forgotten how to lose.
The League One outfit was bombarded by the hosts for nearly the whole game, but held out, with keeper Jamie Jones in fine form between the sticks.
He was powerless to stop Van Der Gun’s deserved headed close-range equaliser on the stroke of half-time, but excelled for the rest of the game.
He turned over Van Der Gun’s effort early second half, after a slick passing move carved through the back line.
He was again superb on 70 minutes when he saved low at the post from Van Der Gun’s shot, who was the biggest threat for the hosts all game.
Orient’s opening goal on 35 minutes came totally against the run of play.
Swansea dominated proceedings for the whole half, but the hosts could not break through the determined O’s line until the 45th minute.
Smith repeated the trick he pulled at Norwich during the previous round by getting his head on the ball inside the area to turn the tie on its head.
It was déjà vu all over again.
Daniels supplied the cross from out wide and Smith beat keeper Ma-Kalambay to the ball.
Orient had nearly gone into the break 2-1 down, but Pratley was ruled offside on the goal-line when he deflected a shot into the net.
The O’s were up against it from the early stages as Swansea dominated possession in this FA Cup tie.
The midfield was ruled by Swansea all through this game. Skipper Stephen Dawson left for Adam Chambers near the hour after an hour of all toil and no reward.
Terrell Forbes had a lucky escape on the hour mark when Van Der Gun’s angry low square pass across the face of goal deflected off him then harmlessly wide.
A golden chance was spurned by Orient on 63 minutes when half-time substitute Jonathan Tehoue and Alex Revell sprung the offside trap.
Cox’s lobbed pass was collected on the run by Revell, but his pass across the area was mis-hit and easy for Ma-Kalambay.
The Frenchman became a lone figure up front as Revell dropped back into midfield as the game wore on in the face of continued attacks by Swansea, who set up camp in Orient’s final third during the final 15 minutes.
Russell Slade’s hung tough for the win and sent him batty with joy when luck rewarded their efforts near full time.
Now the Orient express steams on into the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
Jones (gk), Whing, Chorley, Forbes, Cox, Dawson (Chambers 64), McGleish (Tehoue 45), Revell (Mpoku 79), Daniels, Spring, Smith Attendance: 6,281
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here