Roberto Di Matteo will not rip up his plans for Liverpool today on the back of victory at Leyton Orient.

But Albion’s head coach knows several of his back-up players are ready for the call to arms in the Premier League after steering the Baggies to the third round of the Carling Cup.

A completely changed side from the weekend’s victory against Sunderland took to the field in East London as Di Matteo wrapped his first-choice men in cotton wool ahead of Sunday’s trip to Anfield.

But the shadow side had more than enough to see off Orient with several gears to spare with a number of men catching the eye.

Pablo Ibanez put behind him the disappointment of being dropped for Saturday’s victory and capped an impressive defensive display with his first Albion goal.

Nicky Shorey returned to his former club and barely put a foot wrong at left-back on his debut, albeit against a limp challenge from the League One outfit.

And captain-for-the-evening Steven Reid excelled in the heart of midfield with a tenacious, intelligent display that sent a message to boss Di Matteo.

The Italian is on the lookout for reinforcements for the ‘holding role’. But Reid’s mastery of the position at Brisbane Road screamed out the message that he cannot be regarded as simply a stand-in right-back.

A confident debut from teenage academy graduate Sam Mantom alongside Reid made it a pleasing night all round for the Baggies, with only a late injury for substitute Marek Cech dampening spirits a fraction.

Most importantly, however, the negotiated a potentially tricky second-round obstacle with no drama, no extra-time and no need to call any of their Premier League ‘big guns’ into action.

The quietly dominated from outset and had an early chance, created for himself by Giles Barnes when he produced a great touch to control a Pablo clearance and step away from Ben Chorley but his shot was straight at keeper Jamie Jones.

There was a real scare for the Baggies at the other end in the eighth minute when a Jonathan Tehoue pass found Scott McGleish in the box and the flag stayed down, but Boaz Myhill made his first save as an Albion player to turn the ball around the post.

Mantom struggled to get on the ball in the opening moments but he had the chance to run at goal on 16 minutes after a corner.

He skipped past two defenders but blasted his shot into the side netting.

First-team exile Luke Moore was looking keen to be involved early on and he found space again in the 27th minute to collect a pass from Simon Cox and let fly with a powerful shot that Jones had to turn around the post.

He would soon fade, however.

Albion had gradually seized the upper hand and the claimed a deserved lead after Barnes was chopped down on the left flank by former Baggie Adam Chambers.

Mantom delivered an inviting free-kick and the unmarked Pablo glanced it inside the far post.

It could have been 2-0 moments later when Nicky Shorey’s long-range pass was controlled fabulously by Simon Cox, but he could not produce a finish to match as it cleared the bar.

Orient worked a decent opening shortly before the break but Charlie Daniels’ 20-yard shot was claimed by Myhill.

But Albion continued to hold sway, and after a neat passage of play they saw a Roman Bednar shot saved well by Jones.

The second period began in disjointed fashion with the Baggies content to keep possession and the home side unable to release the shackles on their own game, which was geared up to stifle the visitors.

But there was a nervous moment for Albion just after the hour mark when Leon Barnett made a hash of dealing with a high ball and the Os broke down the left.

A testing cross found Tehoue at the far post but he headed wide.

The game began to open up as the home side searched for an equaliser and the Baggies almost struck on the break, but Mantom’s dipping shot was straight at Jones.

Cox then had a chance to shoot on the half-volley but he made a poor contact and his effort flew well wide.

Orient then hoisted the ball into the Baggies box and the visitors failed to clear but McGleish’s header was held on the line by Myhill.

But the Baggies were solid enough to complete the job and Wood made the scoreline more emphatic in stoppage time.

He collected pass from substitute Gonzalo Jara and held off two defenders on his way into the six-yard box, from where he drilled a low shot past Jones from a tight angle.