Russell Slade hailed a reborn Leyton Orient side after they booked a first Wembley appearance in 15 years with victory over Peterborough United.

Goals from Dean Cox and Chris Dagnall sent them through to the League One play-off final on Sunday week, despite Conor Washington’s late reply setting up a nervy finish.

Not since the Division Three play-off final against Scunthorpe back in 1999 have fans from this part of east London had cause to watch their side at the national stadium. They lost then, but manager Slade said: ‘It’s like a new club has been born. We have got one more step and we can’t get carried away.

We need to draw breath now and, whoever we face, it will be a tough game.’

That will be against either Preston or Rotherham, who are tied at 1-1 going into Thursday’s second leg.

Cox fired Orient in front on the hour, finding the bottom corner after his blasted free-kick came back off the wall. It was his 16th goal of the campaign and he said after the final whistle: ‘We’ll have a few pints to celebrate, don’t worry about that. And a few shots. But then it will be focus on the final.’

Dagnall converted Shaun Batt’s pull-back from close range after 88 minutes before Washington poked home a shot in stoppage time.

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson admitted: ‘It’s a massive disappointment. We were all gutted in the dressing room. It was not the time or place to criticise players, I thanked them for their efforts.’

—Daily Mail