The prize was different and the players had changed – but a familiar wave of momentum swept Albion within two wins of Wembley.

It was all change on the teamsheet as Carling Cup action returned to the Baggies’ agenda after a fabulous month of Premier League success.

Yet the 11 alternations to the starting line-up did nothing to douse the feel-good factor that is sweeping the Hawthorns at present and could yet bring Albion success on more than one front.

The head of steam the Baggies have built up in a flying start to the league campaign propelled them into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup, leaving Leicester in its wake.

And Roberto Di Matteo’s men booked their place in Saturday’s last-eight draw with a similar swagger to the one that has elevated them into the top division’s top six.

The second string of Albion players not only grabbed their own slice of the early-season glory in the East Midlands last night, they left the Premier League side in no doubt they are ready to pounce on any drop in standards in the first line-up.

They matched the league side’s desire, mirrored their clinical touch in front of goal – and even shared a little of the good fortune that has helped the senior line-up along the way.

If Somen Tchoyi thought his gift goal from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford was a once-in-a-career piece of fortune, he was wrong.

The Cameroon international had to wait just 10 days for Leicester goalkeeper Conrad Logan to emulate the Manchester United first-choice’s howler by dropping a simple catch at Tchoyi’s feet.

The midfielder will hope for many more Baggies goals, but Tchoyi will never score easier ones than his opening two.

His tap-in after Logan inexplicably spilled Gianni Zuiverloon’s mishit pass proved the pivotal moment of the night, restoring the one-goal lead that Albion had just surrendered when Nicky Shorey’s own-goal cancelled out Simon Cox’s opener.

Logan’s horror moment killed the Foxes’ resolve and the result was rarely in doubt, with Steven Reid heading in Albion’s third before Cox added to his earlier poacher’s finish with a deflected thunderbolt to complete the scoring.

With several of the Premier League’s big-hitters already out of the running, the Baggies know a place at Wembley is a real possibility.

Yet it was Leicester who made the brighter start and Pablo Ibanez was called upon to make a perfectly-timed saving challenge in his own area in the fifth minute, sliding in to dispossess Yuki Abe as the midfielder shaped to shoot.

Nine minutes later the visitors allowed Paul Gallagher too much room 30 yards from goal and his fizzing low shot only just crept past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill’s righthand upright.

The hosts continued to hold sway and, when Steven Reid played Graham Dorrans into trouble in midfield the Foxes broke through ex-Baggie Lloyd Dyer, who’s shot required Myhill to display some safe handling.

But it was the Baggies who grabbed the lead on 21 minutes courtesy of Cox’s composure in front of goal.

A clever ball by Reid and a fine cross by Giles Barnes started the panic in the Leicester box, Somen Tchoyi’s attempted flick towards goal rebounded to Roman Bednar and his shot on the turn hit Miguel Vitor and sat up for Cox.

The former Swindon man, regarded by many team mates as Albion’s sharpest natural finisher, never looked likely to miss and he lifted the ball past Logan, glanced briefly to the touchline in case of an offside flag and then wheeled away to celebrate.

But Albion continued to face pressure from the home side and Marek Cech, back in the team after his broken foot, had to make a timely challenge to prevent Steve Howard reaching a Dyer cross from the left.

They survived again when Gallagher bent a free-kick just wide after a body-check on Abe that earned Abdoulaye Meite a yellow card.

But Albion began to take control as half-time approached and they almost added a second goal when Bednar outjumped Michael Morrison to met Reid’s cross but his looping header dropped just wide.

They ended the first 45 minutes camped out in the Leicester half, Barnes delivering a couple of teasing crosses that might have brought him more reward on another night.

Again they could have doubled their advantage early in the second-half, as Tchoyi’s neat reverse pass released Dorrans but his cross-shot was too powerful for Cox, steaming in at the far post.

Yet they were back to square one on 54 minutes, as a combination of lax play and bad luck saw them pegged back to 1-1.

Dorrans’ sloppy touch allowed Franck Moussa to feed Gallagher, who advanced down the right before driving a low cross towards goal.

Half-time substitute Nicky Shorey attempted to cut it out but only succeeded in  diverting it past the helpless Myhill for an own goal.

Dorrans fired straight at Logan and Bednar headed just wide from a Barnes cross as Albion strived to re-assert their authority.

But Tchoyi’s latest gift on 64 minutes burst the bubble of Leicester enthusiasm that the equaliser had created.

A high diagonal ball from Zuiverloon was meat and drink for the Leicester goalkeeper, who inexplicably dropped the ball at Tchoyi’s feet.

It bounced awkwardly for him but he had time to bring it under control before slotting into the gaping net.

The freak goal sapped belief from the Leicester ranks and Reid put the result beyond doubt with 11 minutes to go, rising highest at the far post to head in a Barnes corner.

Barnes then almost scored a fine solo goal after weaving past three defenders into the box but Logan made an excellent save.

However, Albion would not be denied their fourth goal with Cox unleashing a fierce drive which took a slight deflection off Abe on its way into the top corner for a last-minute goal that put an exclamation mark on an excellent night’s work.

By Steve Madeley