BLACKBURN Rovers have crashed out of the Carling Cup after an eight-goal thriller at Old Trafford.

Rovers failed to follow in the footsteps of bitter rivals Burnley as they succumbed to Manchester United and their hat-trick hero Carloz Tevez.

The Argentinian opened the scoring in the first-half, although Aaron Mokoena may get credited with an own goal, before Nani doubled United's advantage before the break.

Six more goals followed in the second-half, with sub Benni McCarthy reducing the deficit almost immediately after the interval.

Roque Santa Cruz flicked flicked the ball to McCarthy and, with his first meaningful touch, belted it home after he had outmanoeuvred Gary Neville on the edge of United’s box.

But any meaningful hope of a Rovers revival were cut short as Tevez netted from the penalty spot, after the South American was fouled by Martin Olsson.

Four minutes later, Tevez assured himself of the matchball as he tapped into an empty net.

Matt Derbyshire pulled one back then, in stoppage time, McCarthy grabbed another as United stumbled.

But Tevez ensured victory for United, scoring his side's fifth in the dying seconds.

ROVERS: Paul Robinson, Andre Ooijer, Stephen Warnock, Tugay, Ryan Nelsen, Brett Emerton, Roque Santa Cruz, Aaron Mokoena, Keith Treacy, Matt Derbyshire, Martin Olsson. Subs: Jason Brown, Benni McCarthy, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Carlos Villanueva, Robbie Fowler, Alan Judge, Jason Roberts.

UNITED: Ben Foster, Gary Neville, Anderson, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Rafael, John O'Shea, Jonathan Evans, Darron Gibson, Tevez, Rodrigo Possebon. Subs: Tomasz Kuszczak, Patrice Evra, Ji-Sung Park, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes, Danny Welbeck, Manucho.