Carlos Tevez scored a brace in the second half as Manchester United grabbed a thumping 4-1 victory over Middlesbrough to extend their winning streak to eight games.

Nani had given the defending champions an early lead in the 3rd minute but Boro equalized through Jeremie Aliadiere three minutes later. However United retook the lead through Wayne Rooney at the half hour mark before Tevez scored two goals in the second half as United scored four goals for the fourth game running.

It was action from the word go as United pressed ahead for an early goal and were rewarded in the 3rd minute when Nani controlled the ball superbly on the left flank before cutting in to smash a brilliant drive past Mark Schwarzer to put his team in the lead.

However Boro struck back three minutes later as Aliadiere rose high to meet Sanli Tuncay's cross to head home his first league goal for Middlesbrough. After the early excitement, the match settled down with both the teams unable to break down the opposition defense.

United retook the lead in the 33rd minute through a defensive blunder by Stewart Downing as Rooney latched on to a poor clearance by the winger to smash home his fourth goal in third game. The hosts doubled the lead 10 minutes into the second half when both Rooney and Tevez linked up superbly up front to create a chance for the Argentine striker who made no mistake from 12 yards out.

Tevez scored his second of the game 15 minutes from final whistle when his shot deflected off Andrew Taylor leaving Schwarzer with no hope of reaching the ball before it passed into the net. The win sees United equal the 1907 record of scoring four goals in four successive matches and see the Red Devils go into the crucial clash against Arsenal in the peak of their form.