Published: 46 minutes ago
PAUL SCHOLES and Ashley Young fired the goals that see Manchester United take the title race into the final day of the season.
But Alex Ferguson's men need QPR to do them at favour at Manchester City next weekend if they are to retain their Premier League title.
The two clubs sit on 86 points, but with a goal difference that is eight stronger than their rivals, Roberto Mancini's side know victory at the Etihad would settle matters.
After seeing City win 2-0 at Newcastle, United were desperate to get a win to keep their slim hopes alive and set up a chance away to Sunderland in their last fixture.
First-half goals from Scholes and Young made it a comfortable day at Old Trafford against Swansea — albeit in a season where Fergie and Co look set to be bridesmaids.
United were keen to press in the early stages but struggled to test goalkeeper Michel Vorm.
Wayne Rooney had a well-struck half-volley from the edge of the area blocked at source, while at the other end Nathan Dyer curled over the bar after cutting in from the right on his left foot.
The England striker then looked to play in Javier Hernandez, but the Mexican's control let him down.
Young and Rooney combined brilliantly down the left to set the winger racing toward the area in acres of space, but he chose to pass toward Hernandez and his ball was poor and was cut out.
Vorm produced a decent double save to stop United going ahead, first getting down to block a fierce strike from Patrice Evra and then pushing Rooney’s follow-up around the post.
The hosts went ahead in the 28th minute. Valencia was the architect down the right, pulling the ball back to Michael Carrick, whose side-footed effort was neatly flicked home by Scholes.
Carrick then flashed a ball across the face of goal which Hernandez almost got a touch to, while the Mexican also headed over from a Scholes flick-on.
Rooney curled a shot over the top corner from the edge of the area as United battled to increase their lead.
Phil Jones tested Vorm with a low shot following a neat one-two with Valencia, the keeper again equal to the effort.
But Young curled in a superb second in the 41st minute, side-footing a first-time low shot into the far corner with little of the goal to aim for after the ball broke to him on the left of the area.
Chris Smalling headed wide following a corner in first-half injury time.
United keeper David De Gea had to claw away a shot from Gylfi Sigurdsson which bounced just in front of him as the Swans threatened to stun their opponents at the start of the second half.
But at the other end only a last-gasp clearance from Dyer prevented Young from having a simple tap-in after a swift United break.
And Hernandez missed a golden chance to score shortly after when he headed over unmarked from a Valencia cross.
De Gea had a let off when Danny Graham got a touch on a Joe Allen shot and it looked like the ball would squirm through the grasp of the keeper, who recovered just in time to grab the ball.
Rooney stabbed a shot wide after being played through by Carrick and United’s momentum appeared to be stalling.
Rooney was replaced in the 79th minute, with Dimitar Berbatov coming on in his place.
Hernandez had a shot deflected over and Jones headed straight at Vorm as United desperately sought further goals, but they did not arrive.
Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand (Rafael Da Silva 88), Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes (Cleverley 68), Young, Rooney (Berbatov 78), Hernandez. Subs Not Used: Amos, Giggs, Park, Nani.
Booked: Rooney.
Goals: Scholes 28, Young 41.
Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Caulker (Tate 90), Williams, Taylor, Allen, Sigurdsson, Gower (Britton 46), Dyer (Moore 71), Graham, Sinclair Subs Not Used: Tremmel, Routledge, Monk, McEachran.
Att: 75,496
Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
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