Johnstone’s Paint Trophy: Leyton Orient 0 Coventry 0 (Orient win 4-2 on pens)

Orient kept their cool to beat Coventry in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless stalemate at Brisbane Road.

The impressive Lloyd James netted the decisive spot-kick to send Russell Slade’s men through, after Jamie Jones had saved Franck Moussa’s effort and seen John Fleck miss the target.

Kevin Lisbie’s last-minute goal had earned O’s a Capital One Cup win over Coventry early in the season, but there was no place in the 16-man squad for the veteran striker in this contest due to a dead leg.

Shaun Batt, credited with the equaliser at Oldham on Saturday, lined up in attack with Jayden Stockley, while Frenchman Yohann Lasimant also came into the starting line-up along with the returning Gary Sawyer.

And Batt had the first attempt at goal, but it proved tame, and captain Nathan Clarke had a header comfortably gathered from a James free-kick soon after.

The hosts produced a nice move on six minutes as Stockley headed onto Lasimant, who found Moses Odubajo and then collected a return pass before firing over.

And Batt had a header comfortably saved before Stockley fired over from long range on 13 minutes.

Coventry rallied midway through the half, with Scott Cuthbert picking up a yellow card for a foul on Callum Wilson, but Moussa sent the free-kick straight into the wall.

The tie needed a spark and almost got it minutes before the break when Lasimant did well on the left, beating two men and winning a free-kick, which James delivered into the box and Cuthbert headed just over.

O’s went close early in the second half when Romain Vincelot’s ball into the box saw Batt pressure Joe Murphy, with the ball dropping to Odubajo who fired over from a tight angle.

But Sawyer’s brave block denied Wilson at the other end before a big scramble in the Orient box led to a string of Coventry corners.

The hosts had their best chance yet when a clever pass from James found Odubajo cutting in from the left and he forced an excellent save from Murphy.

Slade sent on David Mooney for Batt midway through the half and Coventry’s Moussa had penalty claims ignored after going down under Cuthbert’s challenge soon after.

Fleck was then cautioned for a foul on Lasimant, who made way for Dean Cox after Wilson fired well over for the visitors.

And Coventry’s Clarke sent a long-range free-kick wide of the mark after namesake Nathan had fouled Moussa.

Mooney had a great chance to win it when James picked him out with a great ball, but the irish striker’s header was well saved by Murphy.

And Sawyer then sent a free-kick narrowly wide seven minutes from time.

Slade’s men had one last chance before the end of normal time when Clarke played in Mooney, but Murphy got there first, although O’s claimed he had handled outside the box.

But three minutes of stoppage time failed to produce a winner and so it went to penalties.

Leon Clarke scored first for Coventry, despite Jones getting a hand to it, but Mooney levelled by firing into the top corner.

Jones then kept out Moussa’s effort, diving to his right, before Elliot Omozusi put Orient ahead.

Jordan Clarke and Sawyer traded spot-kicks before Fleck fired wide and James sealed Orient’s progress with a fourth success.

Orient: Jones, Omozusi, Sawyer, Vincelot, Cuthbert, James, Odubajo, Batt (Mooney 65), Clarke, Lasimant (Cox 74), Stockley (Bartley 82).

Unused subs: Larkins, Lee.

Coventry: Murphy, Adams, Webster, Thomas, Fleck, Clarke, Moussa, Barton (Daniels 74), Willis (Phillips 65), Wilson, Clarke.

Unused subs: Burge, Manset, Haynes.

Attendance: 2151 (including 489 Coventry fans).