Manchester United came from behind to secure a 3-1 win away at Preston North End on Monday’s FA Cup fifth-round clash at Deepdale.
The Luis Van Gaal-led team will battle the cup holders, Arsenal, in the last eight of the competition.
The Red Devils dominated possession in the early stages, winning a corner as early as the second minute, but Wayne Rooney’s delivery was cleared.
Preston, however, were able to carve out a chance on goal nine minutes in when Joe Garner’s long-range effort from 25 yards was caught by David de Gea.
Despite the home side increasing in confidence, they gave away a free kick just outside the box just before the quarter-hour mark.
Angel di Maria stepped up and curled a dangerous shot over the Preston wall, but despite goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann being left stranded, the ball floated wide.
Garner was involved once again in the 27th minute when Paul Gallagher’s free kick from the right was nodded towards goal by the 26-year-old striker, but the connection wasn’t clean and the ball soared over.
Little happened during the remainder of the first half, but just two minutes after the restart, Garner threaded a pass through to Scott Laird, whose snap shot deflected off Antonio Valencia’s boot and into the United net, much to the delight of the home crowd.
It could have been TWO for the Lilywhites moments later, as a deep free-kick was met by Tom Clarke on the volley, but Ander Herrera did just enough to put 27-year-old off.
With 25 minutes left to play and the United fans beginning to fear the worst, Herrera was then able to draw his side level when he latched onto substitute Ashley Young’s ball before slotting past Stuckmann.
United then edged themselves in front just six minutes later when a Valencia cross was emphatically punted home by Marouane Fellaini.
And any chances of a North End comeback were extinguished in the latter stages of the match when Stuckmann brought down Rooney in the box to gift United a penalty.
The England man stepped up and duly sent his spot kick into the corner to secure an FA Cup quarter-final tie at home to Arsenal.