On Saturday, in the FA Cup fourth - round, Premier League champions Manchester City had a narrow escape. They managed to secure a 2 - 1 victory against third - tier Leyton Orient, with Kevin De Bruyne coming off the bench to play a crucial role.

For Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, it's been a difficult season so far, and things seemed to be taking a turn for the worse when Leyton Orient took the lead in the 16th minute. Jamie Donley unleashed a long - range spectacular shot that hit the crossbar and then the back of City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega before finding the net.

City fielded a strong starting lineup and tried hard to turn the tables. Their efforts finally paid off when Abdukodir Khusanov equalized in the 56th minute. After a corner, Rico Lewis took a shot, and Khusanov deflected it into the goal.

De Bruyne entered the game late. In the 79th minute, Jack Grealish set him up, and the playmaker scored a close - range goal, saving City from potentially going into extra time.

Even after City took the lead, Leyton Orient almost snatched an equalizer. In the closing minutes, their captain Dan Happe had a great opportunity to volley the ball in but sent it over the bar.

In recent years, some people have mourned the loss of the FA Cup's traditional charm due to the overwhelming focus on the Premier League. However, this encounter between Manchester City and Leyton Orient was full of the kind of drama and excitement that the FA Cup is renowned for.

A murky, drizzly lunchtime in an east London suburb lined with rows of Victorian terraced houses looked like the perfect stage for Orient to stage a mugging of City's slickers.

And while City escaped, it was a mightily relieved Guardiola who applauded the home fans at full-time.

Orient, sixth in League One after a sensational run of form under Manchester United fan Richie Wellens, did themselves proud as they showed scant regard for reputations.

While City made eight changes from last week's mauling across the capital at Arsenal it was still a line-up packed with hundreds of millions of pounds' worth of talent.

Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis both made their debuts while Rúben Dias returned in defence with Grealish and Ilkay Gündogan adding experience.

Gundogan fluffed a chance to settle City's nerves when he somehow steered a Savinho cross wide with the goal gaping.

Orient, roared on by a capacity 9,000 crowd, snapped into tackles and were soon in dreamland.

Gundogan lost the ball near the halfway line and when the ball broke for Donley, the 20-year-old sent a long-range shot arcing towards goal.

As Ortega back-pedalled, seemingly in slow motion, all he could do was push the ball against the crossbar before it dropped down and went in off his back, sparking scenes of delirium around the stadium and on the balconies of the apartments wedged into each corner.

City's response was sporadic as Orient defended superbly to protect their lead. Orient keeper Josh Keeley, who scored a stoppage-time equaliser in his side's second-round win against Oldham Athletic, produced a superb save to deny Omar Marmoush from an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

Orient were digging deep at the start of the second half but City got the stroke of luck they required when Lewis's shot took a big deflection off Khusanov to wrong-footed Keeley.

Still, a City win never looked a formality as Orient continued to cause problems for the nervy visitors.

James McAtee was denied by the woodwork for City while Keeley made a fine save to deny Gundogan.

With 20 minutes left, Guardiola sent on Phil Foden and De Bruyne and the changes paid off.

For once, Grealish managed to thread a pass through Orient's massed ranks and De Bruyne provided a delicate finish.