Owen helps Man United into League Cup quarters

Holders Manchester United, featuring an on-target Michael Owen among their second string, reached the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory at Championship (second division) side Barnsley on Tuesday.

Tottenham Hotspur, beaten by United on penalties in last season's final and winners in 2008, were eyeing a hat-trick of finals after they beat Everton 2-0.

Blackburn Rovers beat Championship strugglers Peterborough 5-2, Portsmouth enjoyed a rare win with a 4-0 home success over Stoke City and Aston Villa beat Sunderland on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

United, whose first team were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, settled early nerves by taking a sixth-minute lead when Danny Welbeck, who scored the winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the last round, headed in from a corner.

Two seasons ago Barnsley beat Liverpool and Chelsea en route to the FA Cup semi-finals and the Yorkshire side, struggling at the wrong end of the second division table, went close to an equaliser when Daniel Bogdanovic headed against a post midway through the first half.

But Owen, enjoying a rare start for United, showed his predator's instinct to settle it after an hour with a sharp turn on the edge of the box to wrong-foot two defenders followed by a precise finish into the corner.

United then had experienced fullback Gary Neville sent off for a high tackle on Adam Hammill and they had to work hard in the latter stages as Barnsley made, and wasted, several decent chances.

"It was a Cup tie, Barnsley have put a lot of effort in and had one or two chances when we went down to 10 men but I think we deserved to get through," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

Picking out Owen's contribution he said: "It was a fantastic goal, good feet, quick and a marvellous finish, I'd say it was a great goal."

Tottenham and Everton fielded near-full strength teams and produced a lively game and a bizarre goal at White Hart Lane.

Spurs went ahead after 31 minutes with a superb counter- attack ending with Tom Huddlestone's powerful strike.

Robbie Keane doubled the lead after 57 minutes in a mighty scramble featuring no less than four rebound attempts after his penalty had been saved.

Stand-in goalkeeper Brad Guzan was Villa's hero at the Stadium of Light as he saved a penalty from Kenwyne Jones to force extra time before keeping out three Sunderland efforts in the shootout to help his side to a 3-1 penalties success.

The fourth round concludes on Wednesday when Arsenal face Liverpool, Chelsea play Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City take on second division Scunthorpe, the last remaining lower league club.