Leyton Orient boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation after coming from behind at half-time to claim a vital 3-1 win over ten man Port Vale this afternoon.

Port Vale deservedly took the lead after 28 minutes when Chris Birchall fired a low shot into the net.

But the visitors were reduced to ten men early on in the second half when goalkeeper Chris Neal brought down Chris Dagnall in the area. David Mooney fired home the penalty to level the contest.

It did not take long for Orient to take advantage as they took the lead through an own goal by Neill Collins. But the hosts missed the chance to seal the win when Mooney had a second penalty saved by stand-in keeper Sam Johnson.

However Orient clinched a huge victory in their hopes of avoiding the drop when Dean Cox fired home a superb strike late on.

The O’s made four changes to the side beaten at Crawley with Reading midfielder Jake Taylor handed his debut after joining on loan. Taylor replaced Ryan Hedges with the Welsh Under-21 winger away on international duty.

Mooney was preferred to Darius Henderson in attack. Gary Sawyer and Mathieu Baudry both came into the defence at the expense of Andrea Dossena and Nathan Clarke.

Midfielder Lloyd James was named on the bench for the first time since breaking his leg back in September.

The O’s first opportunity came from a cross by Marvin Bartley but Neal claimed the ball before Chris Dagnall could get in a shot.

Port Vale were denied the opening goal midway through the half when Louis Dodds’ fierce strike was brilliantly tipped over the bar by keeper Alex Cisak.

From the corner, the visitors came close again to scoring but Sawyer cleared off the line from Chris Robertson’s low shot.

Michael O’Connor fired in a speculative volley but it flew well over the crossbar.

Port Vale’s pressure was rewarded just before the half hour mark with a deserved opener. Birchall found space inside the penalty area and drilled a low shot into the far corner of the net.

Robert Page’s side nearly made it 2-0 when Tom Pope hit a shot which Cisak got a touch on but Baudry managed to get back and clear off the line.

Orient were struggling badly but finally tested Neal when Mooney’s 25-yard strike was pushed round the post by Neal.

Taylor fired in a volley late on in the half but the midfielder’s effort flew wide of the target.

The hosts came even closer through Cox but his thumping strike cannoned off the upright.

Orient almost equalised at the start of the second half through Dagnall but his shot was blocked by Neal.

The hosts were awarded a penalty when Neal brought down Dagnall and was sent off. Johnson came on in goal but Mooney fired his spot-kick into the corner of the net for the equaliser.

Orient should have taken the lead when Mooney’s shot was parried and Dagnall’s follow up from close range stuck the post.

But Fabio Liverani’s side went in front in comical circumstances after 61 minutes when Taylor’s header was turned into his own net by Collins.

The O’s made their first change when captain Clarke was introduced in place of Luke O’Neill.

Orient were awarded a second penalty when Mooney was brought down by Johnson. But no card was given and the hosts spurned the chance to add a third goal as Mooney’s tame effort was easily held by the keeper.

Liverani made his second change when Italian target man Gianvito Plasmati was brought on for Mooney.

Orient sealed the victory when Cox fired home their third goal of the match with a clinical finish.

The home fans gave a huge ovation to James after he was given his comeback as a late substitute for Taylor.

The O’s should have added a fourth late on through Dagnall but his close-range effort somehow struck the bar.

There were six minutes of injury time but Orient ended up comfortable winners on a highly eventful afternoon which could have a huge bearing on their chances of staying in League One. 

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Sawyer, Cuthbert, Baudry, O'Neill (Clarke, 67); Cox, Wright, Bartley, Taylor (James, 86); Dagnall, Mooney (Plasmati, 77)

Subs: Omozusi, Henderson, Simpson, Woods

Port Vale: Neal; Dickinson, Robertson, Collins, Veseli; Marshall, Birchall (Daniel, 69), O’Connor, Junior (Johnson, 54); Dodds, Pope (Williamson, 69)

Subs not used: Yates, McGivern, Coulibaly, Campion Referee: Darren Handley

Attendance: 5,623