Tevez sees United through

Although no-one could claim QPR deserved anything from a contest in which they were second-best from start to finish, they almost took the tie into extra-time as United failed to make the most of their dominance.

In the end, Peter Ramage's rash tackle on substitute Daniel Welbeck was all United needed as Tevez coolly stroked home.

Tevez looked lively and, after collecting John O'Shea's square pass, he advanced towards the QPR penalty area before taking aim with a shot that dipped just in front of Radek Cerny but the visiting keeper managed to stop anyway.

O'Shea could also claim the assist when he found himself alone on the by-line and delivered a low cross to Tevez which the striker just failed to turn into the net from close range.

As the second of those opportunities arrived in first-half stoppage time, it was a damning verdict on United's performance.

And their erratic form continued in the second half as Anderson let fly with a free-kick that went so far wide it ended up going over the touchline roughly level with the edge of the area.

Nani was about as far away with another shot midway through the half that almost ended up in the second tier of the Stretford End.

But 14 minutes from the end Ramage's rash challenge left Welbeck in a heap and Tevez did the rest.

In what amounted to a frenzy of late chances, Samuel Di Camini had an equaliser correctly ruled out for offside, while Nani and Park Ji-sung produced fine saves from Cerny as United claimed their place in the last eight.