De Bruyne saves City after Donley's Orient express

Kevin De Bruyne struck in the 79th minute to spare the blushes of Manchester City and earn them a hard-fought 2-1 victory in a rip-roaring FA Cup fourth-round tie at Leyton Orient.

- GEORGE SESSIONS

The League One side went ahead in remarkable fashion after 16 minutes when a 40-yard strike by Tottenham loanee Jamie Donley hit the bar and went in off City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to send Brisbane Road into pandemonium.

Pep Guardiola had watched City get thumped 5-1 at Arsenal last Sunday and would have feared more London woe, but substitute Abdukodir Khusanov deflected a Rico Lewis shot to level after 56 minutes.

De Bruyne was brought on soon after and poked home with 11 minutes left to break the hearts of the O’s and their Manchester United-supporting boss Richie Wellens, as the Premier League champions progressed into round five.

While this competition represented City’s best chance of silverware this season, Guardiola made eight changes from the thrashing up the road at the Emirates Stadium with debuts handed to new signings Vitor Reis and Nicolas Gonzalez.

Erling Haaland was given the afternoon off and Orient fans dared to dream, especially after Jonathan Tehoue – the hero of a 1-1 draw with Arsenal 14 years ago – was presented to a buoyant crowd before kick-off.