Ryan Giggs scored his 100th league goal for Manchester United as the defending champions registered a thumping 4-1 victory over Derby County on Saturday.

The veteran Welshman had put United in the lead five minutes before half time after Derby had done well to keep out the United attack for most of the first half. Carlos Tevez doubled the lead in the final minute of the half and followed it up with a second in the 60th minute. Steve Howard scored Derby's first Premiership goal in eight games before Cristiano Ronaldo completed the rout from the penalty spot in the final minute of the match.

The visitors played out a solid defense game for most of the first half, managing to hold off the United attack. Wayne Rooney came the closest to putting United in the lead when he raced forward to meet Ronaldo's cross but Jay McEverley put in a great tackle to deny the English international.

The hosts finally took the lead in the 40th minute when Ronaldo took possession of the ball on the left flank and cut in before releasing a stinging drive towards the target. Though Stephen Bywater managed to block the first attempt, the rebound fell straight to Giggs who gleefully converted his 100th league goal for the club.

Five minutes later, Tevez scored his first for the night when Ronaldo's free kick found its way to the Argentine and though he failed to make contact with the ball on his first attempt, Tevez calmly put away the chance to double the lead.

United put the result beyond doubt in the 60th minute when Tevez took control of the ball on the edge of the area and with the Derby defense unable to close him down, smashed the ball into the net from close range.

Derby scored their first away goal of the season when Tyrone Mears crossed the ball for Howard to slide in the chance, scoring his first Premiership goal in his career. However it was too little too late as Ronaldo won himself a penalty in the final minute of the match and calmly converted the chance to complete the proceedings.