Last-gasp own goal sends O’s through to the fifth round for the first time since 1982

Swansea City 1 Leyton Orient 2

AN own goal from Swansea skipper Alan Tate two minutes from time gave Orient victory as they marched into the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Jimmy Smith, the goal scoring hero at Norwich in the last round, headed Orient in front in the first half, but Swansea levelled just before the break through Cedric van der Gun.

Then, after a heroic defensive performance, O’s got the luck their performance deserved, when substitute Paul-Jose M’Poku crossed for the right and Tate, under pressure from Jonathan Tehoue sliced the ball into his own net.

The goal put Orient into the last 16 for the first time since 1982 and they have done it the hard way, being drawn away in all four rounds.

Orient skipper Stephen Dawson passed a fitness test on a dead leg and manager Russell Slade was able to name the same side that started Tuesday night’s game against the MK Dons.

But it was Swansea, chasing a place in the Premier League, who started the game well and the visitors came under pressure as the home side forced four quick corners.

For all their dominance, Swansea were unable to create too many openings as Orient defended well in numbers.

Ben Chorley was in dominant form at the heart of the O’s defence and although Jamie Jones was by far the busier of the two keepers, he only had a couple of regulation stops to make in the opening 15 minutes.

Scott Sinclair and Kemy Agustien had efforts early on before the Swans almost edged ahead on 17 minutes when the lively Sinclair sent in an effort that took a deflection off Andrew Whing, but Jones made a smart stop at the foot of his post.

Sinclair was the architect again on 26 minutes when he set up Agustien, but his shot hit Matthew Spring and went behind for another corner.

Then Sinclair, who was a constant menace, went on a dangerous run before firing just over.

But 10 minutes before the break it was Orient who grabbed a shock lead, with their first real effort on target.

Charlie Daniels floated in a free-kick from the right and Smith out-jumped everyone to head into the net from eight yards.

Orient’s hopes of hanging on until the break were dashed on the stroke of half-time when Darren Pratley crossed from the left and Charlie Daniels, overloaded at the far post, could not prevent van der Gun netting with a diving header.

There was almost a sting in the tail for the O’s, as Pratley had the ball in the net again in stoppage time, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

O’s were forced to make a change at the break and Jonathan Tehoue replaced Scott McGleish.

But it was Swansea who continued to dominate and Jones was quickly in action when he brilliantly palmed the ball over the bar from van der Gunn, after an excellent move.

O’s were coming under more pressure and had to defend valiantly, with Terrell Forbes making a couple of crucial tackles.

Then, on the hour, Forbes deflected a driven cross from Andrea Orlandi inches wide of the far post.

But O’s almost struck again on the break when Alex Revell wriggled clear of the Swansea defence and instead of going for goal, tried to find Tehoue and the chance disappeared.

Orient made their second change on 64 minutes when fit-again Adam Chambers replaced skipper Dawson.

For a while O’s got a foothold in the game and had their best spell and Tehoue saw a shot blocked.

But Swansea remained a threat and the dangerous van der Gun cut in from right and sent in a shot that went within a whisker of the post.

Then the heroic Jones came to Orient’s rescue again 14 minutes from time as Sinclair raced through and the keeper blocked his effort.

Swansea substitute Stephen Dobbie shot inches wide for the Swans, before the same player tried his luck again on 82 minutes, but Jones tipped the effort over the bar.

Then came the moment that turned the game on its head when M’Poku’s cross was sliced into the net – and the 700 Orient fans were celebrating again.

Leyton Orient: Jones, Whing, Forbes, Chorley, Daniels, Spring, Smith, Dawson (Chambers 64 mins), Cox, McGleish (Tehoue 46mins), Revell (M’Poku 79 mins). Subs: Butcher, Omozusi, Chambers, Tehoue, Carroll, Kane.

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Orient bookings Chorley 55 mins (dissent)