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The Latics striker's stunning hat-trick did more thna just mark him out as one of the game's rising young stars.
It inflicted on Premiership West Brom the humiliation of a second-round defeat as Megson's decision to put out a shadow squad rebounded on him big style.
The Baggies boss started this calamity-laden tie with just two of the team that began Monday's Premiership fixture with Blackburn.
But West Brom's feeble flops got no mercy from their gutted gaffer as he admitted his team had been outclassed.
Megson said: "There was no question of us trying to take liberties with the team we put out. Everyone on the pitch in an Albion shirt is paid to ply their trade in the Premiership - but it did not look that way to me.
"I canot defend anyone after that, not even myself. We have just played badly. I am struggling to think when we have played worse."
Not that it would have mattered to Ellington, 21. With the form he displayed, he would have blown away the best of Premiership defences - or at least had a good try.
Stunning
He made what reputation he has on the strength of a stunning FA Cup hat-trick against Derby last season when they were still a Premiership outfit.
But in its way, last night's was perfect - made up of one goal with his right foot, another with his left and then a stylish 80th-minute header.
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Albion were unhinged by Jason Jarrett's left-wing cross. When Nicky Eaden knocked it back intpo the box, Ellington volleyed past Joe Murphy.
Megson was so appalled by Albion's first-half performance that he ripped his tactics apart.
Instead of playing with three centre backs, he reverted to 4-4-2 at the start of the second half. He may as well have shown his players the Times' crossword.
They just could not handle Ellington who smashed in his second on 61 minutes from Tony Dinning's pass as the hapless Premiership defenders argued amoungst themselves over whether he was offside.
Ten minutes from time, Ellington rose at the far post to nod in Gary Teale's corss.
Jewell said: "The duke will get the headlines but, this was a good team performance. We were strong in all departments."
Albion's only crumb was Lee Hughes' consolation goal a minute from time.
Courtesy of John Donoghue from The SUN.