Saha broke his seasonal duck with a superbly taken opener, and Kieran Richardson added a second before the break as the Red Devils’ second string eased into the last eight.

Richardson was one of the stars of the night, as was the returning Quinton Fortune who provided the cross for Saha’s goal.

But the hosts were helped on their way to victory by Palace boss Iain Dowie, who fielded an entirely different side to the one which drew with Arsenal in the Barclays Premiership four days ago.