Molby on top for City

Swansea 1

Leyton Orient 0

Swansea player- boss Jan Molby settled a bruising battle with a classic free kick that keeps his side in the promotion race.

City's Steve Torpey was dismissed in the 56th minute and Orient's Mark Warren went the same way a minute before Molby stamped his authority on the tussle.

Peter Shilton came to Orient's rescue on nine minutes. The 47- year-old keeper spread himself to cut off Linton Brown's low shot after the Swansea striker had been put through by his manager.

Torpey and David Penney also came close for the Swans but ex- England international Alvin Martin used his vast experience to keep them at bay.

Orient so nearly took the lead just before the interval when Dai Thomas lost the ball in midfield and Alex Inglethorpe's 20-yard volley brought the best out of Swansea keeper Roger Freestone.

Brown responded with a low cross into the Orient six-yard box. Penney's scuffed shot was scrambled clear and his second effort was smothered on the line by Shilton.

Torpey then earned his red card when retaliating to a Martin kick with his elbow. And Warren followed after tugging back the goal- bound Thomas.

Molby took full advantage on 75 minutes when floating the resulting free- kick past Shilton's dive.

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