Yahoo Sports 'Orient will take game to Man City' - Kelman
Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens will instruct his players to stick to their "high-intensity, pressing" football when they face Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round, says on-loan striker Charlie Kelman.
The League One club continued their cup run with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Derby County, with Kelman opening the scoring before netting his side's fifth penalty.
With the match originally due to take place on Saturday but postponed to Tuesday because of cold weather, both sides knew the winner would secure a home tie against last season's finalists.
"Everyone wants that City tie so there was almost that little bit of extra pressure on everyone, especially the fans – there was this stigma going around the fans that 'It's Orient, so don't expect anything'," Kelman, 23, told BBC Radio London.
"And I think, especially since this gaffer's been in charge, we've put that stigma to bed. And now the club's evolving and it's growing and it's only going in one direction, it's just a pleasure to be part of."
Kelman's first-half opener against Derby was his 11th goal this term, meaning he is now more than halfway towards achieving his target of 20 for the season.
The QPR striker is on his second loan at Brisbane Road, having scored seven times during 2022-23.
All three of Orient's FA Cup ties this season have been taken to extra time.
They knocked out Boreham Wood on penalties in round one and Oldham Athletic courtesy of a 121st-minute winner in the second round.
Kelman gave the O's the lead before Rams striker Dajaune Brown levelled the score four minutes later on Tuesday.
With a 100% penalty record in the shootout, Kelman stepped up to score the 10th spot-kick and send it to sudden death.
Goalkeeper Josh Keeley saved from Callum Elder before Orient academy graduate Zech Obeiro netted the winning penalty to send the home side through at Brisbane Road.
Such was Kelman's focus on the task at hand, he did not realise his team would be knocked out, were he to miss.
"It didn't even phase me at the time. I'm sure if I realised at the time it would have been different, but I knew where I was going and the rest is history," he said.
"The more you overthink it, it can go wrong. So I just step up, pick a spot and hit it as hard as I can."
The O's are unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions since their first-round victory over Boreham Wood.
They travel to Peterborough United in the league on Saturday.
