Manchester United have put their case forward for more silverware with a 5-3 victory over a hapless but spirited Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford. Under pressure to hold down a regular first team spot, Carlos Tevez netted four times in a fantastic individual performance that helped put the Red Devils through to the semi-finals.

The Argentine opened the scoring in the 36th minute before teammate Nani doubled the advantage less than five minutes later.

It looked gloomy for the Rovers at half-time but substitute Benni McCarthy gave a glimmer of hope back to the visitors with a goal three minutes after the resumption of play.

The glimmer was short-lived as Tevez won and converted a penalty in the 51st minute then rounded out his hat trick with a tap in three minutes later to make it 4-1.

The match looked done and dusted from a United point of view until McCarthy set up Matt Derbyshire for what seemed a consolation goal in the 84th minute.

That consolation goal turned into another flicker of hope for Blackburn as the roles were reversed and Derbyshire crossed to the South African McCarthy who made it 4-3.

Just moments later in injury time, Tevez smashed home a pass from Anderson to ensure a Man Utd victory by making the scores 5-3 and knocking Blackburn out of the competition in the process.