Old Trafford hosted a moving tribute to George Best on Wednesday before the latest crop of Manchester United favourites took centre stage to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 to reach the League Cup quarter-finals.
In two other all-Premier League clashes, Blackburn Rovers came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Charlton Athletic while Wigan Athletic overcame Newcastle United 1-0.
Middlesbrough also came from behind to beat second division Crystal Palace 2-1 while Bolton Wanderers ousted second division Leicester City 2-1 after extra-time.
United's game was preceded by an emotional farewell ceremony for their former winger Best, who died on Friday at the age of 59.
After Best's team mates from the 1968 European Cup-winning side had formed a guard of honour on the pitch, United wasted little time in taking control with two goals in the first 16 minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo, in the same number seven shirt made famous by Best in the late 1960s and early 1970s, opened the scoring with a penalty after being tripped.
Louis Saha then fired in the second from the edge of the box.
United, fielding a strong side, made it 3-0 in the 56th minute when John O'Shea crashed home a shot after a neat combination with Saha.
LATE REPLY
Nathan Ellington headed a late reply for Albion but it could not spoil a memorable night for the United fans, who spent most of the second half singing the praises of Best.
"It was a fantastic night, the greatest tribute that could possibly have been given," said United manager Alex Ferguson.
"The fans were fantastic and really helped us through. I really wanted to win."
Wigan, who are enjoying a dream first season in the top flight, poured forward from the start at the JJB Stadium and only wayward finishing and fine goalkeeping by Shay Given kept Newcastle in the game despite the home side fielding several reserves.
The action continued apace after the break with Newcastle much-improved but the only goal came with a David Connolly penalty four minutes from time after Robbie Elliott hauled down Jason Roberts.
Charlton looked on course to end a run of four successive defeats after goals by Darren Ambrose and Danny Murphy.
But Shefki Kuqi pulled one back for Blackburn in the 75th minute, David Thompson lashed in a brilliant long range equaliser in the 81st and David Bentley completed the turnaround two minutes from time.
A terrible own goal by Franck Queudrue gave Palace the lead at the Riverside before goals by Mark Viduka and Szilard Nemeth early in the second half won the tie for 2004 League Cup winners Middlesbrough.
All the goals at Bolton came in extra-time after a dour 90 minutes.
Jared Borgetti and Ricardo Vaz Te scored either side of the turnaround and, though Gareth Williams replied for Leicester, Bolton held out.
On Tuesday, third division Doncaster Rovers pulled off the shock of the fourth round when they beat Premier League Aston Villa 3-0.
Arsenal and Birmingham City also won on Tuesday.
