Pugh double puts Bournemouth in driving seat until super sub helps Orient storm back

Leyton Orient 2 Bournemouth 2

ORIENT substitute Jonathan Tehoue struck twice in the last five minutes to earn Orient a point as Russell Slade’s side launched an astonishing fightback.

Marc Pugh had scored twice for the visitors at the start of each half, and they looked set to record only their second away win of the season.

But then Tehoue, on for Scott McGleish, grabbed his first goal on 85 minutes and then levelled two minutes into stoppge time.

Earlier, it had all looked plain sailing for the visitors, who took the lead after just two minutes when Pugh fired them ahead.

It was the kind of start new Orient goalkeeper Jason Brown could have done without, as his first job was to pick the ball out of the back of the net.

Pugh was not picked up by Elliot Omozusi on the edge of the Orient box and he let fly with a stunning shot that beat the 28-year-old Blackburn Rovers keeper, who was given the selection nod ahead of Lee Butcher, who dropped to the bench.

Brown arrived yesterday and will stay at Brisbane Road until just before Christmas.

Orient came close to a leveller on 10 minutes when a slide-rule pass from Paul-Jose Mpoku found Scott McGleish.

The O’s striker blasted a shot against the bar and top-scorer Alex Revell saw his follow-up attempt blocked.

As the home side looked to force their way back into the game, Mpoku went close with a free-kick that Shwan Jalal scrambled to save at his near post.

Revell then went close with a header following a free-kick from Charlie Daniels and as Orient stepped up the pressure the dangerous Mpoku fired wildly over after a good run.

Bournemouth were forced into a change when Marvin Bartley replaced Shaun Cooper, but it was Bournemouth who finished strongly as Josh McQuoid was given time and space and his 30-yard drive was saved by Brown.

The O’s, who had been caught out at the start of the first half, saw the same thing happen again, when Bournemouth stretched their lead within three minutes of the restart.

The last thing Orient wanted was to concede a second, but that’s what happened when Pugh was sent clear by Harry Arter and he beat Brown from close range for his second of the game.

Orient tried to hit back and Revell went close to cutting the deficit on 56 minutes whenhe held off the challenge of two defenders and lobbed an effort just wide following a great through ball from Mpoku.

But, as the half progressed, the visitors started to take a grip and McQuoid saw a shot deflected wide by Aaron Brown, on for Charlie Daniels, who had limped off on 68 minutes.

Bournemouth were forced into a change themselves when keeper Jalah fell awkwardly under pressure from Tehoue and after lengthy treatment was stretchered off and replaced by Jon Stewart.

It gave Orient a lift and although little had been seen of Orient as an attacking force in the second half, five minutes from time Tehoue threw his side a life-line.

The substitute latched on to a through ball from Aaron Brown and as the Bournemouth defence switched off, Tehoue fired past the substitute keeper from a tight angle.

Then, in a dramatic twist, Tehoue struck again in the second minute of stoppage when he latched on to a long kick from goalkeper Jason Brown and finished in style to earn Orient a point.

Orient: J.Brown, Omozusi, Chorley, Forbes, Daniels (A Brown 68 mins), Cox, Spring, Smith, Mpoku (Walker 94), Revell, McGleish (Tehoue 60 mins). Subs: Butcher, Whing, A. Brown, Jarvis, Cestor.

Orient bookings: Chorley (69 mins dissent), Tehoue (93 mins unsporting behaviour).

Referee: Keith Hill

Attendance: 4,531 (inc 1,003 Bournemouth fans).