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MANCHESTER UNITED 2 - 0 SWANSEA 

First-half goals by Paul Scholes and Ashley Young earned a comfortable win over Swansea as Manchester United moved level on points with Manchester City - but it could not disguise a feeling of helplessness at Old Trafford.


Although only goal difference separates the top two, the championship will be City's for the first time in 44 years so long as Roberto Mancini's side can match United's result on the final day of the season.


City will face QPR at home, having won all but one of their 18 Premier League matches at the Etihad Stadium, while United travel to Sunderland.

And with United only managing the same margin of victory as City had earlier recorded at Newcastle, Sir Alex Ferguson's men trail their "noisy neighbours" by eight goals.

Four weeks ago Ferguson's side were eight points clear of Mancini's team.

And as the Scot walked onto the pitch afterwards, his assertion that "hopefully next week will be the biggest celebration of our lives" underlined the about-turn in fortunes needed.

United had numerous chances to boost their goals tally, but they came up against a stubborn Swansea team, who again demonstrated their aptitude for the top flight in keeping their hosts at bay.

The City result made for a subdued start to the game, but United began to grow in confidence against the visitors and once Swansea's Nathan Dyer had curled over the top, Michel Vorm did well to produce a double save to thwart Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney.

Antonio Valencia, restored to the side after missing out in the 1-0 defeat by Manchester City on Monday, had a hand in his side's opener. His cutback found Michael Carrick, whose shot was deflected past Vorm by Scholes.

That lifted the atmosphere, and once Young found the corner of the net with a fine curling effort following Scott Sinclair's mistake, there appeared some hope that the hosts could reduce their city rivals' goal difference advantage.

Javier Hernandez could have added to the total before the break, and once Gylfi Sigurdsson had tested David de Gea early in the second half, Young was inches from adding his second of the afternoon as Nathan Dyer sped back to clear.

United's desire to push for goals left them open at the other end and Danny Graham and Dyer went close, while Sigurdsson drew another De Gea save from a free-kick.

Rooney chipped just wide, among a host of other chances, but the sense of frustration around Old Trafford was evident when the United striker picked up his first booking of the season after fouling Leon Britton.

Four weeks ago, Ferguson's team were favourites to secure their 20th top-flight championship, but Rooney and his team-mates will recognise that their recent defeat at Wigan, not to mention letting a two-goal lead slip against Everton two weeks ago, could have cost them this time.

The problem now is that if City secure their first Premier League title, it will only serve to highlight a shift in power which may be hard to reverse.

MANCHESTER UNITED VS SWANSEA

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck is out after injuring his ankle in a tackle with Nigel de Jong during Monday's derby.

Jonny Evans remains sidelined, but Anders Lindegaard is available for the first time since January.

Former United youth player Alan Tate (calf) could be available for Swansea after returning to training.

The Swans are also monitoring the fitness of right-back Angel Rangel (hamstring).

MATCH PREVIEW

"Do you want to go first or second?" It's the classic game show question, but not a choice Manchester United can make ahead of another potentially classic Premier League weekend.

United went second in the table on Monday night and they're kicking off second this time, with Manchester City's result at Newcastle set to have a huge impact on the early atmosphere at Old Trafford.

It won't change how Sir Alex Ferguson will ask his side to play against Swansea - they have to win the game - but can you imagine the noise around the place if City have done anything other than win on Tyneside?

A Newcastle win or even a draw would hand the initiative back to the reigning champions and they couldn't throw it away again could they?

Little would surprise me in this terrific title race anymore, particularly with the nerves United have displayed in recent weeks. They've won only one of their last four games, and the first 15 minutes aside, struggled to find any sort of attacking rhythm or threat in Monday's crunch derby.

Having scored four in each of their last two home games, the attacking side of things shouldn't be a problem in this one, with Wayne Rooney finding home especially close to his heart at the moment. He's not scored in any of his last four away games but has bagged 12 goals in his last seven matches at Old Trafford - scoring in every game.

It's at the other end where nerves might just be a factor. Jonny Evans is out again through injury, and whilst you can't compare his absence to that of Nemanja Vidic, for most of the season his form throughout the campaign does mean that he'll be missed.

What sort of threat will Swansea pose? Well we know they keep the ball better than most, but they have struggled to score away from Wales, with only Fulham and Stoke netting fewer away goals.

Just like Sunderland on the final day though, they won't be the pushover Roberto Mancini's mind games are trying to suggest, and it's great that they'll be able to play in a relaxed style that will suit them for one of the games their fans have looked forward to most all season.

Manchester United away for the last away game - and no threat of relegation. It's been a superb first Premier League season for Swansea. How will United remember their 20th? We'll know for sure next Sunday. We might get a good idea this one.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Swansea have won none of their previous eight matches at Old Trafford (D2 L6).
• United's win at the Liberty Stadium in November was the only win by an away team in 17 fixtures between the two sides.

Man Utd

• Sir Alex Ferguson's side are yet to win any of the eight league games in which they have conceded the opening goal this season (D3 L5).
• Wayne Rooney has scored 13 Premier League goals in 2012 - the joint most along with Papiss Cisse.
• He currently has 26 league goals this season - one more would give him his best ever Premier League tally.
• Rooney needs two more goals to reach 200 in his club career and he is poised to make his 250th Premier League appearance for Manchester United.
• Manchester United failed to have a shot on target v Manchester City in a Premier League game for the first time since May 2009 v Arsenal.

Swansea

• The Swans have won just one of their last seven Premier League games (D2 L4), but are unbeaten in three.
• Only Fulham (12) and Stoke (11) have scored fewer away goals than Swansea (17) in the Premier League this season.
• Swansea have won more games (six) against teams in the top half of the table than they have against sides in the bottom half (five) this season.
• Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored in four of Swansea's last five Premier League wins.
• Danny Graham has scored 99 goals in 299 club career appearances.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rejects Roberto Mancini's title race view

Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected Roberto Mancini's theory Manchester United remain favourites to retain their title.

The Blues' Italian boss has been playing down City's chances even though they are ahead on goal difference with two games to go after Monday's derby.

 But Ferguson certainly does not agree the Reds are facing "easy" games against Swansea and Sunderland.

 "I don't think we have easy games," he said. 

"If you go to Sunderland on the last game of the season, with the support they have and the manager they have got, you don't expect an easy game and the way Swansea has played this season has been admirable.

 "City have got two games left. If they win their two games they win the league." 

Nevertheless, by beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Newcastle proved their well-being and hope springs eternal at United that the Magpies can avoid defeat to Manchester City on Sunday in a game that will finish half an hour before United kick off against Brendan Rodgers' men. 

"They have got to win at Newcastle. That is the challenge for them," said Ferguson. 

"Newcastle is a very difficult place and they are playing well.

 "As everyone knows, winning at Chelsea is very difficult. We have not done it for eight years. Their form is good and it will be a difficult game. 

"We will be aware of what is going on because everyone will be watching it, hoping it works for us.

 "You can't avoid it but whether I pay a lot of attention to it I don't know because we still have to prepare for our own game. We are not going to be neglecting that part."

 That game at the Sports Direct Arena is set to prove pivotal because, eight goals behind at the start of the weekend, Ferguson does not think it is possible to overhaul City's goal difference advantage.

 "Say they win three-nil on Sunday, the goal difference would be 11 and they still have QPR at home," said Ferguson.

"That would be impossible. I don't think the goal difference applies." 

Double blow for Manchester United was Danny Welbeck, Jonny Evans ruled out of Swans clash

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed injured stars Jonny Evans and Danny Welbeck will not face Swansea on Sunday as his side bid to overcome the disappointment of losing top spot in the Barclays Premier League table to rivals Manchester City. 

Evans missed the 1-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium in a game which saw Welbeck suffer an ankle injury which led to him wearing a protective cast after the game. 

Ferguson will have to do without both Evans and Welbeck for the game at Old Trafford as his side look to take the title initiative back after Vincent Kompany's goal gave City the advantage, albeit on goal difference. 

Ferguson said on Evans: "He has improved a little bit but (will) not (be fit) for Sunday." 

On Welbeck he added: "He is out. He got injured on Monday. Hopefully he will be ready for the Sunderland game." 

Ferguson insisted his players had to deal with the setback against City and do their best to take maximum points from the final two games. 

"We have to get over the disappointment of Monday. It was a blow to us. It has put us on the back foot. We can only do what we can do."