Manchester City avoid cup shock at Leyton Orient after Kevin De Bruyne winner

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.

The League One side went ahead in remarkable fashion after 16 minutes when a 40-yard lob by Tottenham loanee Jamie Donley hit City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and went in 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 in Rico Lewis’ strike 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.

Jack Grealish was the only City player familiar with Brisbane Road after an appearance there while on loan at Notts County in 2013 and he dragged an early effort wide amid boos.

A miscued clearance by Jack Simpson soon after presented City with another chance, but Ilkay Gundogan dragged his effort off target.

It had not been completely one-way traffic, though, and Orient should have taken the lead after 14 minutes.

Jordan Brown clipped the ball behind the City defence and Charlie Kelman