United salute Best with West Brom win
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-12-01 10:09

Manchester United marked their first home match since the death of George Best with a 3-1 win over West Brom at Old Trafford that took the club into the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

In the day's other ties Premiership high-flyers Wigan, despite making nine changes to their side, beat Newcastle 1-0 while Blackburn came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 away at Charlton.

Tributes to the late football legend George Best are left outside Manchester United's Old Trafford ground in Manchester. Best's funeral will take place 03 December in Befast, Northern Ireland. [AFP]

Elsewhere Middlesbrough turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace while extra-time was required at the Reebok Stadium after Bolton were held to a goalless draw by Championship side Leicester.

But, inevitably, most attention was focused on Old Trafford as fans paid tribute to Best who died aged 59 on Friday from multiple organ failure brought about by years of alcoholism.

By coincidence, Best made his United debut against West Brom as a 17-year-old in 1963.

After a brief speech from United great Sir Bobby Charlton there was an impeccably observed minute's silence from a near capacity crowd of more than 60,000 - itself a tribute to Best as the League Cup is the least regarded of all the trophies United compete for and frequently draws only modest attendances at Old Trafford.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, left, and West Bromwich Albion manager and former United player Bryan Robson bring out wreaths in honour of George Best ahead of the English League Cup fourth round soccer match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford, Manchester, England Wednesday Nov. 30, 2005. [AP]

United went ahead in the 12th minute when Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo - wearing the No 7 shirt that Best wore for most of his time at Old Trafford - was fouled in the box by Diomansy Kamara and scored from the resulting penalty.

And four minutes later United doubled their lead when French striker Louis Saha fired in from the edge of the box after being played in by Giuseppe Rossi.

John O'Shea then put the result beyond doubt in the 56th minute with his second goal in as many games, after scoring United's winner in their 2-1 league win away to West Ham on Sunday, before Nathan Ellington pulled one back for the Baggies in the 77th minute.

Wigan dominated the match but the hosts could not convert their superiority into a goal until the 88th minute when Jason Roberts was brought down in the box and David Connolly scored from the penalty-spot to see off Newcastle, still searching for their first major trophy in 36 years.

Charlton, who knocked out holders Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out in the previous round, were on course for the last eight after goals either side of half-time from Darren Ambrose and Danny Murphy.

But Shefki Kuqi pulled one back for the visitors at The Valley in the 75th minute and nine minutes from time his fellow substitute David Thompson let fly with a long-range strike that squared the match.

Rovers's comeback was then completed two minutes from full-time thanks to David Bentley.

At the Riverside, Middlesbrough went behind when Franck Queudrue put through his own net just after the half-hour mark.

But two goals in three minutes early in the second period from Socceroo star Mark Viduka and fellow striker Szilard Nemeth turned the tide for the 2004 League Cup winners.