Manchester United went to the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney gave the champions the lead after Jeremie Aliadiere had cancelled out Nani's outstanding third minute goal before Carlos Tevez added a second-half brace.

The Portuguese winger shook off a challenge on the left flank, cut inside and unleashed a shot from all of 30 yards which curled into the top corner.

But the roars from the home crowd were swiftly silenced as struggling Boro levelled within three minutes.

Boro equalised as Tuncay produced some tricky play down the right and his cross was met by Aliadiere whose flicked header came off the inside of the far post and into the net.

It was a first Middlesbrough goal for the former Arsenal striker and the Teessiders came close to taking the lead midway through the first-half when Stewart Downing met Tuncay's cross but planted his header a matter of centimetres past the far post.

However it was the England winger who gifted United the lead when he tried an elaborate turn close to his own penalty area.

That allowed Nani to nip in and poke the ball to Rooney who fired a shot into the back of net for his eighth goal in seven matches for club and country.

Rooney, Ronaldo and Nani were a constant threat to Gareth Southgate's men and United came close to extending their lead when Rooney's cutback from the left found Ronaldo but his shot was straight at Mark Schwarzer.

United dominated after the break and although Lee Cattermole unleashed a drive from 25 yards which Edwin van der Sar was forced to tip over, it was no surprise when they extended the lead with a superb team goal after 55 minutes.

Anderson's chip found Tevez who in turn fed Rooney with a first-time volley. The England man then backheeled into the Argentine's path and he calmly slotted the ball into the corner.

United were in cruise control from then onwards and sealed the win five minutes from time as Rooney launched a lighning counter-attack. He found Tevez whose shot deflected off Andrew Taylor and bounced into the net.

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