At a venue where they have drawn four successive Premier League games, United's territorial dominance for once translated into a comprehensive 4-1 victory that came courtesy of braces from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the recalled Anthony Martial.
It was a success that came without Mourinho's prowling presence on the touchline following the news he had accepted a one-match ban for his antics in the fixture between these two clubs three days earlier.
And though he may not have seen the performance at close quarters, Mourinho declared himself pleased with the cup victory which sent United into a last-four meeting with Hull.
16.3 Primemesh black "I'm pleased with the goals because the performance is something we're used to," he said on Sky Sports 1.
Mercurial Superfly V black "We're playing very, very well at home and today was more of the same. After their goal we had 10 minutes where we felt it deeply and the players on the pitch couldn't hide that because West Ham's first shot they equalised.
elastico superfly green "But in the second half the team got again the confidence to play and we won comfortably playing beautiful attacking football, which is something the fans like but we need results.
X 16.1 purechao black "Goals plus performance means the real happiness."
Banned from the touchline and the dugout - for the second time this month - Mourinho was not seen in the Old Trafford directors' box either, though he revealed he was able to relay his thoughts to his coaching team.
Asked where he witnessed United's win, he replied: "It's a secret. I was in contact with the bench.
"Yesterday (Tuesday) we worked really well and everybody was prepared. At half-time I could be face to face with the players and on top of that I trust my assistants to pass on the information we need. I'm really happy with the players."
Wherever he was, there were plenty of positives for Mourinho to draw upon, not least Martial's response to having been left out of the previous two United squads and a late cameo, the first of the season, for the popular Bastian Schweinsteiger.
MercurialX Proximo II Wayne Rooney was also bright, although his wait to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time United of 249 goals will carry on until at least next week due to a suspension that will rule him out of the trip to Everton at the weekend.
