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Manchester United's Michael Owen - Source: Reuters -
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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 Wednesday.
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 Sunderland and Aston Villa were playing extra time after a goalless 90 minutes.
United, whose first team were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday, 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.
The fourth round concludes on Thursday, when Arsenal face Liverpool, Chelsea play Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City take on second division Scunthorpe, the last remaining lower league club.
