United 4 - Boro 1
Manchester United equalled a 100-year-old scoring record as they stormed to the Premier League summit with a clinical 4-1 win over Middlesbrough.
Not since the days of Billy Meredith in 1907 had the Red Devils scored four in four successive games. But, after accounting for Wigan, Aston Villa and Dynamo Kiev, Sir Alex Ferguson's free-scoring champions did it again to pile the pressure on Arsenal ahead of their visit to Liverpool.
For once, Ronaldo was not hogging the headlines either, as United's 'other' Portugal winger took centre stage. Taking up possession on halfway, Nani just seemed to amble into the space offered by Boro's back-pedalling defence. Thirty yards out, he let fly with an unstoppable shot which flew over Schwarzer and dipped under the crossbar. Nani's gymnastic celebration was as amazing as the goal and if Tevez had been able to beat Schwarzer with an audacious chip after being released by Ronaldo shortly afterwards, United would have been doing handstands.
However, any team hoping to gain reward from a trip to Old Trafford simply cannot afford the kind of unnecessary blunder Downing made as he dwelled in possession inside his own area and allowed Nani to toe a pass to Rooney which the gleeful striker smashed home.
Ronaldo had wasted two outstanding chances and within 30 seconds of the re-start, Rooney had belted another into the Stretford End after a sublime one-two with Tevez had cut Boro's defence apart. It was a foretaste of what was to come for Boro.
This time, Anderson, Rooney and Tevez weaved their magic to create United's third.
As they watched Tevez cushion Anderson's pass into Rooney's path, then stride forward to finish in clinical fashion after the England man had returned possession with an inspired back-heel, there could have been no-one left in the stadium, who believes United's twin strike force are incapable of playing with each other. The pair may be similar in size and approach but rather than blunting their individual edge, it just makes the Red Devils twice as dangerous. In six games together, the pair have contributed nine goals to six wins, with another three at Old Trafford helping United account for Middlesbrough in a 4-1 win which saw the hosts equal a 100-year-old record.
Tevez completed victory with a late strike as United's modern day legends joined their counterparts from a century ago in the history books.
And the news from Stamford Bridge after the final whistle only brought even more glee as rivals City had been thumped 6-0 by Chelsea.
'For weeks we were only scoring one, now it is four, some of our attacking play at times is very good' said Ferguson.
Not since the days of Billy Meredith in 1907 had the Red Devils scored four in four successive games. But, after accounting for Wigan, Aston Villa and Dynamo Kiev, Sir Alex Ferguson's free-scoring champions did it again to pile the pressure on Arsenal ahead of their visit to Liverpool.
For once, Ronaldo was not hogging the headlines either, as United's 'other' Portugal winger took centre stage. Taking up possession on halfway, Nani just seemed to amble into the space offered by Boro's back-pedalling defence. Thirty yards out, he let fly with an unstoppable shot which flew over Schwarzer and dipped under the crossbar. Nani's gymnastic celebration was as amazing as the goal and if Tevez had been able to beat Schwarzer with an audacious chip after being released by Ronaldo shortly afterwards, United would have been doing handstands.
However, any team hoping to gain reward from a trip to Old Trafford simply cannot afford the kind of unnecessary blunder Downing made as he dwelled in possession inside his own area and allowed Nani to toe a pass to Rooney which the gleeful striker smashed home.
Ronaldo had wasted two outstanding chances and within 30 seconds of the re-start, Rooney had belted another into the Stretford End after a sublime one-two with Tevez had cut Boro's defence apart. It was a foretaste of what was to come for Boro.
This time, Anderson, Rooney and Tevez weaved their magic to create United's third.
As they watched Tevez cushion Anderson's pass into Rooney's path, then stride forward to finish in clinical fashion after the England man had returned possession with an inspired back-heel, there could have been no-one left in the stadium, who believes United's twin strike force are incapable of playing with each other. The pair may be similar in size and approach but rather than blunting their individual edge, it just makes the Red Devils twice as dangerous. In six games together, the pair have contributed nine goals to six wins, with another three at Old Trafford helping United account for Middlesbrough in a 4-1 win which saw the hosts equal a 100-year-old record.
Tevez completed victory with a late strike as United's modern day legends joined their counterparts from a century ago in the history books.
And the news from Stamford Bridge after the final whistle only brought even more glee as rivals City had been thumped 6-0 by Chelsea.
'For weeks we were only scoring one, now it is four, some of our attacking play at times is very good' said Ferguson.
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