Sven Goran Eriksson's probable final match in charge of Manchester City ended with an embarrassing 8-1 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough.

Boro ruthlessly exposed 10-man City, who had Richard Dunne sent off early on, as Afonso Alves grabbed a hat-trick, Stuart Downing a brace, with Adam Johnson, Fabio Rochemback and Jeremie Aliadiere netting the others.

City fans chanted Eriksson's name at the start of the match while a small group brandished 'Save Sven' placards, although it appears their protests will make little difference, with owner Thaksin Shinawatra unimpressed with the Swede's maiden season in charge.

City's plan of keeping their discipline and sneaking into the UEFA Cup via the Fair Play League was rather scuppered when Dunne was harshly shown the red card by referee Phil Dowd when he clashed legs with Tuncay as the pair chased down a long ball.

Downing crashed the penalty past Andreas Isaksson, seemingly playing in his last match for the club before a probable summer transfer, to put the home side 1-0 up.

City's response was to fire in some long-distance efforts in a bid to work Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer, although only Martin Petrov's free-kick came close to working the big Australian.

And, after Tuncay had brought a smart save out of Isaksson from just inside the box with a well-struck volley, Boro got themselves a second. Rochemback laid off as he broke into the box, picking out compatriot Alves who slotted home with a left-footed finish in the 37th minute.

Things got worse for City in the second half as Boro took advantage of their extra man and a palpable lack of committment from City to extend their lead further.

England winger Downing got a third in the 57th minute when, after George Boateng's right-wing cross was knocked on, he smashed a superb volley with the outside of his left foot inside the far post.

Two minutes later Alves made it 4-0 when he raced on to Julio Arca's through-ball to stab past a hopelessly exposed Isaksson.

There was worse to come for Sven; first youngster Johnson crashed a low effort which skidded off the turf and inside the post, before Rochemback fired a stunning 35-yard free-kick into the top corner to make it six.

Aliadiere came off the bench to make it City's worst scoreline of the season when he fired home from just inside the box after being teed up by Rochemback.

Substitute Elano scored a fine consolation, crashing a shot high into the top corner from the edge of the box, before Alves completed his hat-trick.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport