West Ham 1-2 Manchester United: Red Devils into FA Cup semi-finals - 5 things we learned

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring and Marouane Fellaini bundled in a second before James Tomkins pulled one back

Manchester United booked at place at Wembley with a thrilling 2-1 win over West Ham in the final FA Cup match at Upton Park.

After a slow first-half, United went ahead when teenage striker Marcus Rashfordlasted the ball home from inside the area nine minutes after the break.

he pressure on Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal was eased further when Marouane Fellaini kneed the ball home to double the visitors advantage on 67 minutes.

A James Tomkins set up a grandstand finish at the famous old stadium, but theManchester United defence held firm, with David De Gea making a number of stunning save.

Steve Stammers was at Upton Park and here's what he learned.

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Marcus Rashford scores the first goal for Manchester United

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Rashford celebrates with his team-mates

1. Andy Carroll – ready for Euros?

If Roy Hodgson is looking for a player with shock value, then Carroll is his man. Powerful – no doubt. Strong – that is a certainty. But the one-dimensional aspect of his play leaves him reliant on crosses. That is the drawback.

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Marouane Fellaini scores the second goal

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2. Atmosphere – can it be replicated at the Olympic Stadium?

That will take some doing. There was a vibrancy about Upton Park last night. The noise generated by a full house against top opposition will be difficult to reproduce at the new home. Good luck on that one.

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3. Manchester United – what does the season hold?

Van Gaal has taken a lot of stick but this season is turning out alright. If United win the FA Cup and pinch a Champions League spot then the campaign can only be considered a success. He's taken a lot of stick, but this looks a bit like progress.

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Wayne Rooney looks on from the substitutes' bench

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Rooney eventually made his return

4. United style – which team turned up and how did they play ?

In the first half especially, United looked more like a solid unit. They defended with numbers and attacked with pace. Van Gaal brought in the aerial power and muscle of Marouane Fellaini and give-and-go man Ander Herrera. History could be repeating itself.

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Mark Noble is challenged by Chris Smalling

5. Is Michael Carrick worth a new deal?

One hundred per cent he is. Carrick is still in contention to go to the Euros and you can see why. He rarely wastes a pass and reads the game so well. If United let him go, it could well be a decision that will come back and haunt them.

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Michael Carrick is booked

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Fellaini has an effort saved

West Ham: Randolph, Cresswell, Tomkins, Ogbonna, Antonio, Kouyate, Noble, Lanzini (Emenike '74), Payet, Valencia (Moses '62), Carroll.

Manchester United: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah, Smalling, Blind, Rojo (Valencia '68), Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Herrera (Schneiderlin '76), Martial, Rashford (Rooney '90).

West Ham 1 Manchester United 2 player ratings: Marcus Rashford? David De Gea? Who was the star man?

United will now face Everton at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final

Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini fired Manchester United to Wembley as West Ham's last ever FA Cup tie at Upton Park ended in a 2-1 defeat.

The Hammers went into the quarter-final replay as favourites to see off a United side enduring another tough season amid rumours of dressing room disharmony and mounting criticism of boss Louis Van Gaal.

But second-half goals from youngster Rashford, his sixth since bursting onto the scene in February, and the much-maligned Fellaini booked a semi-final clash with Everton a week on Saturday.

James Tomkins set up a grandstand finish with a brave header with 11 minutes remaining, and Cheikhou Kouyate had a last-gasp equaliser ruled out for offside.

BUT WHO WAS THE STAR MAN? RATINGS BELOW...

But United held on to keep Van Gaal in with a chance of finishing a turbulent campaign with some silverware - their first for three years.

In a frantic finale Carroll headed narrowly over and De Gea made a superb save to deny Kouyate, before the midfielder's header was ruled out by a narrow offside decision.

West Ham vs Manchester United Player Ratings: Payet and Carroll poor in FA Cup exit as Rashford earns Wembley semi-final

Manchester United booked their place in the semi-finals of theFA Cup with a 2-1 victory over West Ham at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday night.

The Hammers had hoped for a fairy tale ending as their famous old ground staged its' last ever Cup tie but it was not to be.

The two sides produced a scrappy first half which was starved of clear-cut chances, aside from efforts from Marouane Fellaini and Jese Lingard.

Louis van Gaal's side began the second half brightly and were rewarded for their efforts when Marcus Rashford rounded James Tomkins and dinked a superb finish into the top corner.

The visitors doubled their advantage with three quarters of the game played when Fellaini poked home from close range to leave Slaven Bilic's side with it all to do.

The home crowd urged their team on but James Tomkins' header proved to be little more than a consolation as United march on to face Everton at Wembley while West Ham will have to focus their efforts on the possibility of a top-four finish.

But who impressed in east London tonight? And who had an evening to forget? Scroll through the gallery above to find out.....