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Giggs scored an uncharacteristic tap-in to open the scoring late in the first half before Tevez struck a second on the stroke of the the break.

Tevez cracked in a third with an hour played but Derby put together some decent football after that and were rewarded with Howard's bundled consolation following good work by another sub, Tyrone Mears.

Ronaldo, who went down easily under a challenge from Mears in the second minute of time added on, put away the penalty kick.

Derby arrived at Old Trafford with the intention of battling United for every ball from an organised tactical set-up. For almost the entire first 45 minutes it worked a treat.

Giggs went close with a free-kick while Anderson and Owen Hargreaves matched the industry of Paul Jewell's midfield. However United seemed a touch complacent in the early stages.

On 24 minutes Giggs then found Ronaldo on the left and the Portuguese slid the ball in for Wayne Rooney. The England man was denied a simple tap-in by James McEveley's last-ditch challenge.

Late blocks prevented many a shot reaching Stephen Bywater's goal and although County were combative, only Claude Davis found his name in referee Chris Foy's book due to a shoulder charge on Rooney.

Their hard work was undone in the 40th and 45th minutes to send the home side in at half-time two goals to the good. Firstly Ronaldo's left-foot shot was parried by Bywater and Giggs arrived to tuck it away close in.

On the stroke of the half Tevez was found near the penalty spot by Anderson. The Argentinian missed the ball on his attempt then fired the second into the far corner.

The Red Devils re-emerged after the break to a downpour yet looked comfortable as they stroked the ball about. Giggs was unfortunate not to add his 101st league goal when he volleyed a Rio Ferdinand cross from the corner of the six-yard box against the base of the far post.

Seconds later Kenny Miller almost found himself through on goal at the other end but finally opted to shoot from 20 yards instead of beating last man Wes Brown. His effort was a yard over the crossbar.

In the following minute United had a third. Tevez received the ball inside the penalty area from Brown and turned; he bought himself half-a-yard of space outside Dean Leacock and smashed the ball across goal and into the bottom corner.

There were changes abound after that, with Giggs and Anderson taken off to give Louis Saha and Darren Fletcher a chance. In white and black the impressive Giles Barnes, who had tested Edwin van der Sar with a skidding shot from distance, made way for another enterprising wide man in Mears.

Rooney showed his class in bursts of play including a stunning crafted ball to the far post that was inches wide with Tevez arriving.

On 76 minutes Derby scored their goal, Howard - on for McEveley at half-time - arriving in the area to chest the ball home from Mears's dangerous cross.

Derby then put together a flurry of passing moves in the final third to threaten Van Der Sar's goal but it was not to be, Ronaldo falling over in the dying seconds under a lightweight challenge from Mears and getting to his feet to stick away the spot-kick.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport