Hull City suffered their first away defeat of the season on Saturday afternoon, going down 4-3 in a thriller to the current European champions and Premier League title holders.

The Tigers had found themselves 4-1 down in the second half, but goals from Bernard Mendy and Geovanni set up a tense final few minutes.

Phil Brown was forced to make one change to his starting line-up with Bryan Hughes coming in for the suspended Ian Ashbee.

George Boateng took the captain's armband.

Former United defender Paul McShane continued at right-back.

Nick Barmby came into the squad on the bench while Caleb Folan returned from illness to take the place of Dean Windass.

United welcomed Edwin Van der Sar and Wayne Rooney back into their starting line up.

Ryan Giggs was amongst the substitutes.

Chants of 'we've got more points than you' rang out from the City fans ahead of kick off on a bright but chilly afternoon at the Theatre of Dreams.

Except for May's Play-Off Final against Bristol City at Wembley, the game was being witnessed by the biggest-ever crowd to watch a match involving Hull City.

But it was United who were first to show their class as they took their lead on three minutes.

Kamil Zayatte's clearance fell to Dimitar Berbatov who found Cristiano Ronaldo.

He turned before firing a low shot into the net via Boaz Myhill's near post from the edge of the box.

City were awarded a free kick a minute later, but Geovanni was way off target from 25 yards.

United went close to a second on 17 minutes after Rooney had picked up possession, but his shot went just over the bar.

Michael Turner was booked in the 21st minute following a foul on Nani, although City felt hard done by as the referee had failed to award a free kick the other way for a foul on Geovanni moments earlier.

The Tigers levelled from a free kick on 23 minutes.

Andy Dawson delivered the perfect ball for Daniel Cousin to glance a header passed van der Sar and into the far corner of the net.

It was a goal that sent the City fans wild with delight and briefly silenced the majority inside Old Trafford.

But City were level for just six minutes as Michael Carrick restored United's lead.

Picking up possession from Berbatov's pass, Carrick advanced as City's defence backed off and the midfielder fired a low shot home via the same post that had helped United score their first goal.

The goal lifted the home side and Myhill did well to beat away Ronaldo's shot in the 31st minute before Rooney saw his effort ruled out for offside six minutes before the break.

United did go 3-1 ahead from a corner in the 44th minute.

Nani's ball in was met by Ronaldo at the near post and his header went home off the underside of the bar.

Half Time: Tigers 1-3 United

City changed their system for the start of the second half as they switched to a 4-4-2 with Geovanni operating on the left and Hughes on the right.

United almost extended their lead two minutes after the restart, but Berbatov dragged a shot wide from inside the box before Ronaldo fired wide shortly after.

Ronaldo then found himself through on goal, but he took too long over his final shot, allowing Kamil Zayatte to block.

United did make it 4-1 on 57 minutes.

Rooney's corner found Nemanja Vidic who fired passed a helpless Myhill.

City's first substitution came two minutes later as Bernard Mendy replaced Hughes.

Mendy's first contribution was to win his side a corner.

Dawson's ball in found Turner, but he could only loop a header into the hands of van der Sar.

City then introduced Peter Halmosi in place of Marlon King while Carlos Tevez replaced Nani for United.

Mendy pulled a goal back with 21 minutes remaining.

After latching on to a through ball, the Frenchman lobbed Van der Sar and despite the best efforts of Vidic, the ball just crossed the line before the defender could clear.

United looked to have taken their foot off the gas, although Myhill twice had to be at his best to deny Rooney.

The Tigers were awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute when Mendy was brought down by Rio Ferdinand in the box.

Geovanni stepped up to take it and confidently placed the ball past van der Sar and into the net to make the score 4-3.

Both sides were fired up and both Rooney, Mendy and Tevez were booked in quick succession as the tackles started to come flying in.

City's final change saw Folan replace Boateng.

City fought bravely in the closing stages, but couldn't find an equaliser as United managed to hang on.

Tigers (4-3-1-2) Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane, Michael Turner, Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson; Dean Marney, George Boateng [captain] (Folan 87), Bryan Hughes (Mendy 59); Geovanni; Daniel Cousin, Marlon King (Halmosi 63).

Subs: Matt Duke, Sam Ricketts, Bernard Mendy, Richard Garcia, Peter Halmosi, Nick Barmby, Caleb Folan.

Bookings: Turner 21, Mendy 85

Man Utd (4-4-2) Edwin Van der Sar; Gary Neville [captain], Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra; Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick (Giggs 71), Anderson (O'Shea 88), Nani (Tevez 63); Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney.

Subs: Ben Foster, Ryan Giggs, Ji-Sung Park, Rafael, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher, Carlos Tevez.

Bookings: Rooney 84, Tevez 86.

This was the first time United had conceded three goals in any game since their 0-3 defeat in the Champions League semi-final at AC Milan on 2 May 2007.

Chelsea were the last team to score three at Old Trafford - 3-1 in the Premiership in May 2005.