Rovers had succeeded in frustrating the home side for much of the contest but looked to be heading for defeat when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took aim eight yards out in the final minute.

The Norwegian’s strike beat Brad Friedel but not McEveley, who bundled the ball away to ensure the second leg at Ewood Park starts level on January 22.

United had already taken the lead once, when Paul Scholes forced David Beckham’s low cross past Friedel at the far post, yet found themselves pegged back within three minutes.

While the pre-match talk had been of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke’s return to pastures old, it was another former Red Devil, Keith Gillespie, who provided Rovers’ inspiration, floating over the cross which David Thompson strode forward to nod home.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness had claimed a visit to Old Trafford was the footballing equivalent of entering a lion’s den.

Yet he could hardly have expected the big cat to purr so gently as his team calmed some early snarling to virtually share first-half possession.

It was not until the final minute of the opening period that United created their first meaningful opportunity, which Ruud van Nistelrooy should have buried instead of allowing Friedel to block and then gather at the second attempt.

Worse was to follow for United’s 20-goal top scorer immediately after the re-start when he bustled his way to the near post to meet Beckham’s low cross, only to scoop his shot over the crossbar when it looked easier to find the net.

Prior to those costly misses van Nistelrooy had largely been anonymous as Blackburn managed to thwart most of United’s attacking moves.

With Roy Keane still nursing a tight hamstring, Phil Neville was given a central midfield berth but other than their captain’s notable absence, it was the strongest League Cup side Ferguson had fielded since their last final appearance in 1994.

It made the paucity of chances even more disappointing, although Juan Sebastian Veron did come close with a couple of rebounds which fell his way on the edge of the box, the second of which took a deflection to leave Friedel stranded, only to arc wide.

Scholes and Beckham were the pick of United’s offensive players, the England skipper delivering his trademark crosses from the right, while Lucas Neill did well to deny Scholes, who created space as he took Giggs’ pass just outside the six-yard area.

Blackburn kept themselves busy, overcoming the loss of David Dunn after just 18 minutes, Gillespie coming off the bench to face his former club, a move which saw Thompson switch to the right.

Thompson saw a chance to attack ended by referee Uriah Rennie, who inadvertently blocked his check inside after he had been sent free by Yorke.

After what had gone before, two goals in three minutes either side of the hour mark came as something of a surprise, although the scorers did not, nor did Beckham as United’s creator.

As time passed, the home side became increasingly reliant on Beckham delivering his magic, in contrast to Ryan Giggs, who endured an unhappy evening despite switching positions with Scholes at various times, and was eventually replaced by Solskjaer.

Nothing seems to be going for the Welshman at the moment, and despite the wholehearted backing of his manager, his place must be under threat when Keane eventually returns.

The loss of Thompson with a leg injury did not immediately disrupt Rovers’ rhythm but slowly United did start to gain forward momentum.

Gillespie flung himself in the way of Mikael Silvestre’s shot to deflect it over, then Friedel managed to beat out Gary Neville’s 25-yard drive as Blackburn found themselves under pressure for the first time.

Yet the visitors will argue they should have been given a chance to win the game when Neill was sent sprawling in the box by Silvestre. Rennie waved away the protests and instead booked the Australian for diving, ruling him out of the second leg.

Victory for Blackburn would have harsh luck on United but McEveley’s dramatic late intervention ensure Rovers did not suffer a similar injustice.