Manchester United progressed to the quarter-finals of the Worthington Cup for the first time in four years with victory over Burnley.

In-form striker Diego Forlan, the hero at Anfield on Sunday, gave United a first-half lead with a cool finish.

And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put the tie beyond doubt after the break with a sensational strike.

Only profligate finishing by United youngster Danny Pugh kept the scoreline down as First Division Burnley's cup run finally came to an end.

Key incidents

34 mins: Forlan puts Man Utd ahead 42 mins: Carroll tips over Taylor's header 64 mins: Solskjaer unleashes an unstoppable shot

Sir Alex Ferguson kept true to his word that he would name a strong side, with only the midfield bearing an unfamiliar look.

John O'Shea moved up from defence to play alongside midfielder Michael Stewart, while David May made a rare start at centre-back.

Despite the supposed superiority of their opponents, it was Burnley who made the brighter start.

Robbie Blake and Gareth Taylor combined to good effect on two occasions in the opening stages.

And Taylor twice saw his shot flash wide of Roy Carroll's post from Blake's cut-back.

Silvestre was again impressive for United

United weathered the early Burnley barrage, thanks to the excellent defensive work of Mikael Silvestre, and began to dictate play.

Burnley goalkeeper Marlon Beresford made a brave save at the feet of striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Forlan's snap shot flew just wide.

The Uruguayan striker's second attempt on goal, however, was right on target and took his tally of goals to six this season.

Having passed to O'Shea, the Irishman returned the compliment with a defence-splitting pass to release Forlan, who coolly slotted past Beresford.

O'Shea should then have extended United's lead on the stroke of half time, but wasted a free header two yards out from Stewart's pin-point free-kick.

United brought on Solskjaer for Van Nistelrooy after the interval in an attempt to kill off the game.

I thought we showed a lot of resolution and fight Sir Alex Ferguson

And the prolific Norwegian forward did just that with a strike of such power that Beresford must have feared for his life in the Burnley goal.

The ball broke to Luke Chadwick, who went on a darting run into the Burnley area before laying it off to Solskjaer, who unleashed an unstoppable shot.

The win, United's fourth on the trot, will give Sir Alex's men yet more confidence going into the massive Premiership encounter with Arsenal on Saturday.

Burnley: Beresford, West, Davis, Gnohere (Alan Moore 72), Branch, Weller, Cook (Grant 57), Briscoe (Papadopoulos 66), Little, Blake, Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Ian Moore, McGregor.

Man Utd: Carroll, Phil Neville, May, Brown, Silvestre, Chadwick, Stewart (Scholes 58), O'Shea, Pugh, Forlan (Giggs 76), van Nistelrooy (Solskjaer 45).
Subs Not Used: Ricardo, Roche.

Booked: Brown.

Attendance: 22,034

Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).