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.

While Best’s impact on United can never be underestimated and will never be forgotten, time does move on and new heroes are found - as evidenced by the regular chants of ‘Keano’.

Of the current Red Devils generation, Ronaldo is most like Best in his direct running and ability with both feet, even if his goal scoring record pales in the shadow of George Best.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese international does excite and, at 20, he has plenty of time to learn.

There was also a coolness reminiscent of Best about the way he buried his penalty calmly into the bottom corner, giving Russell Hoult no chance although the Baggies keeper went the right way after Diomansy Kamara brought Ronaldo down.

The goal gave United the flying start Ferguson must have desired when he named a strong line-up containing Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre and Ronaldo, but one the Scot feared might escape his side after a fifth-minute effort by Louis Saha was ruled offside.

Ronaldo also fell foul of a linesman’s flag before the interval, although United had doubled their advantage by then and were well on the road to victory.

There was nothing significant about Saha’s effort in the context of the evening as a whole, but Ferguson would have been delighted to see the Frenchman’s long-range effort squirm embarrassingly under Hoult’s body as tonight’s strike was his first since January.

If Saha’s talent is established but elusive, Giuseppe Rossi is a product under construction.

Not prone to over-hyping his young stars, Ferguson has hailed Rossi as the best natural finisher to emerge through the Old Trafford ranks since Paul Scholes a decade ago.

Yet nothing Rossi did in the opening 45 minutes suggested Ferguson’s assessment was wide of the mark.

The 18-year-old American-born Italian was a constant menace to West Brom’s stretched defence.

Only the base of a post prevented Rossi finding the net with a stabbed effort from Saha’s low cross and it took a last-ditch Neil Clement tackle to deny him a clear shooting opportunity eight yards out.

Rossi continued his impressive foraging after the interval but, if there was perfect symmetry about today’s number seven getting on the scoresheet, it was equally fitting an Irishman should manage it too.

Unlike the videos and DVDs which have been filled by Best’s great goals, O’Shea’s would have previously extended to just one - the outstanding chip which finished off Arsenal last February.

Now, the defender has two, after he took Saha’s return ball down with one touch, then belted a superb volley past Hoult.

Nathan Ellington pulled one back for the visitors 14 minutes from time but on a night when Ferguson’s team selection indicated defeat was not an option for United, it was never going to be any more than a consolation.

At the final whistle, Best’s name reverberated around the ground, the home fans content his flamboyant legacy to the club had been upheld.

MAN UTD: Howard, Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O’Shea (Pique 67), Ronaldo, Fletcher (R Jones 59), Park (Bardsley 63), Richardson, Rossi, Saha.

WEST BROM: Hoult, Albrechtsen, Moore (Gaardsoe 45), Clement, Robinson, Kamara (Earnshaw 70), Wallwork, Carter, Inamoto, Horsfield (Chaplow 66), Ellington.

Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).