Wembley remains tantalisingly within touching distance like a shimmering oasis in a barren desert. United are now through to the last eight of a competition that is winnable. Oh the possibilities!
The omens are there too. Exactly 47 years ago to the month United won a crucial tie at St James' Park 1-0 through an own goal and went on to reach their only ever league cup final at Wembley.
Back on December 3 of 1975 it was a clanger by Notts County keeper Eric McManus who fumbled a long throw from Malcolm Macdonald into his rigging to put United through to the semi-finals. This time it was Bournemouth skipper Adam Smith panicking at the lurking presence of Callum Wilson who did the dastardly and the Magpies were into the quarters.
