Albion crashed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy as Dean Cox came back to haunt his former club.

The winger, who left Withdean for the O's this summer, netted after 21 minutes before Ryan Jarvis put daylight between the sides shortly after half-time.

Glenn Murray missed a penalty on a frustrating night for the Seagulls, who have been knocked out of this competition by Orient for a second successive season.

With Matthew Sparrow back after suspension and Liam Bridcutt making his debut, Albion fielded a strong side in light of the postponed League One game at Plymouth this coming Saturday.

In fact, the midfield duo were the only changes to the side which beat Walsall at the weekend, but with Russell Slade - also returning to Withdean - fielding a near full-strength Orient team, it made for a tight opening to the game.

In fact it wasn't until the 19th minute did we see any goalmouth action when Murray's cushioned effort fell the wrong side of Orient keeper Jamie Jones's upright.

But it was the visitors who took the lead just two minutes later when Cox cut in from the left and his shot deflected up off Tommy Elphick and over the despairing dive of Casper Ankergren.

With their tails up, the visitors almost made it two just moments later when an instinctive 20-yard volley from Cox crashed back off Ankergren's crossbar.

It was one-way traffic for a spell as Jarvis also flashed a header wide for the Londoners before seeing a snap-shot well held by Ankergren.

Another former Seagull, Alex Revell, then entered the fray for the O's, but it was Albion who ended the first-half the stronger of the two sides.

Elliott Bennett tried his luck from the edge of the box while Murray flashed a volley wide from Marcos Painter's left-wing cross.

Barnes almost got Albion back on level terms shortly before the break when he beat the offside trap, only to see his goalbound effort deflect off the right boot of Jones to safety.

There was still time for the inspired O's keeper to tip a 25-yard Bennett drive over the bar, while Barnes also drilled an effort wide as referee Iain Williamson blew for half-time.

Albion's hopes of clawing their way back into the game were undone just two minutes after the re-start when Jarvis rose unmarked to power home a header from Matthew Spring's free-kick from the left.

It left the Withdean crowd stunned into silence but they were on their feet just three minutes later when Murray was barged over in the box by O's defender Aaron Brown. Williamson had no hesitation pointing to the spot but having dusted himself down, the Albion striker's penalty was saved by Jones.

Like Slade at the start of the game, Cox received a warm round of applause from the home faithful as he was substituted, but it was one of the few times Withdean stirred from its slumber as the game ebbed to a disappointing conclusion.

TEAMS

Albion: (4-4-2) Ankergren; Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd (Jamie Smith 53), Painter; Bennett, Bridcutt, Dicker, Sparrow; Barnes (Hart 67), Murray (Baz 53). Subs: Walker (GK), Battipiedi.

Leyton Orient: (4-4-2) Jones; Smith, Brown, Forbes, Omosuzi; Cox (Cestor 58), Dawson, Chambers (Chorley 83), Spring; Tehoue (Revell 34), Jarvis. Subs: Butcher (GK), McGleish.

Attendance: 3,124 (84 Leyton Orient).

Referee: Iain Williamson.

Yellow Cards: Bennett (Albion) Spring, Brown, Omosuzi (Leyton Orient).