Manchester United's new hero Javier Hernandez took the plaudits again to keep the Red Devils' hopes of a third consecutive League Cup alive with a 3-2 third-round win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
United were twice pegged back in the second half - George Elokobi cancelling out Bebe's deflected opener and Kevin Foley levelling after Park Ji-sung's strike. However, with extra-time approaching, Hernandez came off the bench to secure victory for the hosts and send United through to the quarter-finals.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson lavished praise on Hernandez after a victory which keeps the English giants on course for a third successive League Cup.
"We tend to build up heroes very quickly here but the boy's justifying the praise at the moment," Ferguson said. "He's such a great professional, the kid.
"He's first in, last out at the training ground every day. His goalscoring is getting him a lot of credit and quite rightly. When he came on you just knew that if he got a chance he'd take it."
Mauro Boselli finally started to pay off his £6million transfer fee as Wigan Athletic joined United in the quarter-final draw with a 2-0 defeat of Swansea. The Argentinian striker claimed his first goal since his summer move from Estudiantes as Wigan manager Roberto Martinez secured victory over his former club at the DW Stadium.
Cedric van der Gun should have given the Championship visitors an early lead but Boselli gave Wigan a 51st-minute advantage and Ben Watson added a late penalty.
Leicester City goalkeeper Conrad Logan gifted West Bromwich Albion their place in the hat with a clanger that swung the game firmly in the visitors' direction. The sides were locked at 1-1 after a Simon Cox strike for Albion and a Nicky Shorey own-goal, when Logan spilled the ball at Somen Tchoyi's feet to leave the hosts behind again. Steven Reid and Cox, with a second, added the gloss on a 4-1 win.
Roy Keane's Ipswich Town came from a goal behind to end Northampton Town's brave run in the competition. The Cobblers - who famously dumped Liverpool out in the previous round - came into the clash at Portman Road languishing in 91st place in the Football League ladder yet looked set for another shock when Liam Davis put them ahead early on.
But goals from Carlos Edwards and Damien Delaney soon had the Championship side in front and Keane's men turned in a professional second-half display to seal their progress with Tamas Priskin adding a late third.
Birmingham needed penalties to overcome League One Brentford following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
The Bees looked to have followed up their victory over Everton with success at St. Andrew's through Sam Wood's 15 yard drive mid-way through the second half.
But veteran striker Kevin Phillips broke their hearts in the 92nd minute with the equaliser and Blues keeper Maik Taylor made the decisive save to deny Bees defender Craig Woodman from the spot as they edged the shootout 4-3.
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