Owen helps United see off Barnsley

Danny Welbeck and Michael Owen fired 10-man Manchester United into the League Cup quarter-finals as their goals clinched a 2-0 win over Barnsley last night.

Welbeck put United ahead on six minutes before Owen doubled the holders' advantage on the hour.

But United's passage into the last eight was made more difficult than it should have been when captain Gary Neville received his marching orders on 63 minutes for raking his studs down the shin of Adam Hammill.

Alex Ferguson wielded the axe in spectacular fashion following United's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. He made 11 changes to his starting line-up.

Barnsley almost cancelled Welbeck's opener on 23 minutes but Daniel Bogdanovic's header struck against the upright.

The Tykes threatened again on the stroke of half-time when Bogdanovic found space on the right to cross but his centre evaded Hugo Colace by inches with an open goal at his mercy.

United went off the boil but Owen eased their worries even though they were set for a nervy finish when Neville was dismissed.