United and Chelsea in goal feasts

LONDON, England -- Manchester United scored four goals for the fourth successive game in a 4-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Old Trafford, while fellow title challengers Chelsea routed Manchester City 6-0 as the Premier League went goal crazy on Saturday.

United's win sees the Premier League champions regain the leadership from Arsenal who play Liverpool in a vital match on Sunday, but Chelsea showed they cannot be discounted with a superb display at Stamford Bridge that left Sven-Goran Eriksson's side shellshocked.

A Didier Drogba double, with both assisted by the oustanding Frank Lampard, and goals from Michael Essien, Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou, and to the crowd's delight, substitute Andriy Shevchenko, completed a rout.

Chelsea have now gone seven games with the last five victories under new manager Avram Grant who has been promising a more attacking style of play than under Jose Mourinho.

Eriksson was left rueing a slipshod defensive performance from his side. "I would like to apologize for our display, we forgot how to defend" he said.

United have 26 points from 11 games, with Arsenal a point behind having played two games less. City, despite their ignominious defeat, remain in third in 22 points, one ahead of Chelsea with both having played 11 games.

Nani put United ahead in the opening moments with a crisp long range effort efore Jeremie Alliadiere equalized on six minutes for Boro who were trying to avoid a fifth successive defeat.

A defensive mistake saw Stuart Downing robbed by Nani to let in Wayne Rooney to put United ahead before half time.

After the interval Rooney showed sublime skill to set up Carlos Tevez with a backheel for a majestic third.

Cristiano Ronaldo's 50-meter run helped set up Tevez for his second of the match and United's fourth.

"With players like Tevez, Ronaldo and Nani, you're going to get goals," United manager Alex Ferguson said after his side matched a century-old club record with their run of four-goal tallies.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, there were also goals in abundance as Birmingham came from 2-1 down with Marcus Bent scoring twice for the visitors to beat Wigan 3-2 at St Andrews.

Frenchman Olivier Kapo netted twice for Birmingham with his winner coming after 81 minutes.

Reading accounted for Newcastle 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium, Shane Long scoring an 83rd minute winner after Michael Duberry's own goal looked to have earned the visitors a point.

Fulham were once again pegged back after taking a half-time lead through Simon Davies with Kenwyne Jones scoring 10-man Sunderland's much-needed equalizer with four minutes remaining. The home side's Greg Halford had been sent off just after the hour mark.

Saturday's late match between Portsmouth and West Ham bucked the scoriing trend as it ended goalless with Pompey missing the chance to go fourth in the standings. E-mail to a friend