Simply the Best as United show class

Manchester United 3 West Brom 1

The pre-match tributes to the winger, for whom the makeshift shrine outside Old Trafford continues to grow by the hour, struck just the right chord between celebrating an extraordinary talent and mourning a heartbreaking loss.

Then, the modern day Red Devils responded by advancing into the Carling Cup last eight in a manner far more comprehensive than the final scoreline suggests, with their victory given extra poignancy by the presence of United’s current number seven, Cristiano Ronaldo, and an Irishman, John O’Shea, on the scoresheet.