Who says the FA Cup has lost its capacity to shock? Forget Dagenham and Redbridge or Kingstonian, here was real proof that the truly unexpected still happens. For the first time in nine months, Tottenham won away.
Given that David Ginola's winner at Leicester last April came in the 90th minute, it was fitting that Gary Doherty's decisive header on Saturday arrived deep into injury-time.
Fitting too, that the 20-year-old Irishman should be the player cruelly to deny Leyton Orient a lucrative replay.
As Spurs judder along, interspersing humdrum displays with occasional surges of inspiration, the performances of youngsters such as Doherty and Ledley King at least fill their fans with hope for the future. Alton Thelwell has also impressed and there are others bubbling under.
Having not started for Spurs until a visit to Ipswich nine days ago, the versatile Doherty has been a revelation. He struggled in attack at Portman Road, but, since shifting to centre back, has scored twice in two matches.
"I was upset with my performance at Ipswich," said Doherty, a £1 million signing from Luton last April. "I knew I didn't do well enough and I let a lot of people down playing up front. But now I have fitted into centre back I've been really enjoying it."
If Doherty seems unfazed by his new status, it is hardly surprising, having won three Ireland caps and made his Premiership debut as a substitute at Old Trafford.
"It's always great to have a crop of young players coming through," said Rebrov, who at Dynamo Kiev saw the benefits of a fruitful youth policy.
In buying Doherty, Matthew Etherington and Simon Davies among others while developing King, Thelwell and Luke Young, Tottenham have planned deliberately for the future.
The present, though, is not as rosy as the fans would like. Orient made life hard with an organised, tigerish performance, but the quality of most of Tottenham's play hardly screamed Premiership. They showed few sparks of ingenuity and, without Stephen Carr, lack consistent width.
Not that they looked in danger of losing. Neil Sullivan, whose handling was impeccable, made only one significant save. At the other end, Stephen Clemence and Oyvind Leonhardsen should have scored and Rebrov was twice denied by Ashley Bayes.
Rebrov was shocked at how hard life could be against a third division side. "In Ukraine," the striker said, "even when you are playing a team lower down the Premier League, the top few sides don't expect to encounter a real challenge".
Orient provided a stiff enough challenge to suggest they are capable of winning promotion. When Bayes saved from Rebrov in injury-time it seemed they had done enough, but Doherty headed in a Darren Anderton corner.
Spurs will hope they do not wait nine months for their next away win. Orient are realistic enough to know that another 12,000 crowd is unlikely for the LDV Vans Trophy tie against Wycombe tomorrow.
Leyton Orient: Bayes, Joseph, Lockwood, Smith, McGhee, Watts, Harris, Brkovic (Beall 89), Walschaerts, Houghton, Opara (Tate 72). Subs Not Used: Barrett, Downer, Hatcher. Booked: Harris.
Tottenham: Sullivan, Doherty, Perry, Campbell, Clemence, Anderton, Sherwood, King, Leonhardsen, Ferdinand (Korsten 71), Rebrov. Subs Not Used: Walker, Young, Davies, Thelwell. Booked: Sherwood. Goals: Doherty 90.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
