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.

Man Utd's Sir Alex Ferguson 'optimistic' of title win

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.

Scoring Scholes

Paul Scholes has managed four league goals since coming out of retirement in January, making the midfielder's season his most prolific since 2006-07

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.

Rodgers asks fans for Elvis tribute

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.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Manchester United

  • 01 De Gea
  • 03 Evra
  • 04 Jones
  • 05 Ferdinand (Rafael - 88' )
  • 12 Smalling
  • 16 Carrick
  • 18 Young
  • 22 Scholes (Cleverley - 68' )
  • 25 Valencia
  • 10 Rooney Booked (Berbatov - 78' )
  • 14 Hernandez

Substitutes

  • 40 Amos
  • 21 Rafael
  • 11 Giggs
  • 13 Park Ji-sung
  • 17 Nani
  • 23 Cleverley
  • 09 Berbatov

Swansea City

  • 01 Vorm
  • 02 Williams
  • 03 Taylor
  • 04 Caulker (Tate - 90' )
  • 22 Rangel
  • 11 Sinclair
  • 12 Dyer (Moore - 71' )
  • 24 Allen
  • 27 Gower (Britton - 46' )
  • 42 Sigurdsson
  • 10 Graham

Substitutes

  • 25 Tremmel
  • 05 Tate
  • 16 Monk
  • 07 Britton
  • 15 Routledge
  • 17 McEachran
  • 19 Moore
Ref: Foy
Att: 75,496

Match Stats

Shots

26 13

On target

18 9

Corners

16 3

Fouls

12 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:08 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +2:57

The ball is crossed by Rafael Da Silva, save by Michel Vorm.

90:00 +1:31

Patrice Evra takes a shot. Leon Britton gets a block in.

90:00 +0:56

Unfair challenge on Luke Moore by Patrice Evra results in a free kick. Luke Moore restarts play with the free kick.

89:55 Substitution

Substitution Alan Tate comes on in place of Steven Caulker.

88:44

Tom Cleverley takes a shot. Save made by Michel Vorm.

87:05 Substitution

Substitution Rafael Da Silva on for Rio Ferdinand.

85:23

Shot by Gylfi Sigurdsson from outside the box goes over the target.

83:54

Danny Graham takes a shot. Save by David De Gea.

80:27

Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young, Javier Hernandez takes a shot. Blocked by Leon Britton. Ashley Young takes a short corner. The ball is swung over by Ashley Young, clearance made by Angel Rangel. Ashley Young takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Phil Jones takes a shot. Save by Michel Vorm.

80:18

The ball is sent over by Ashley Young.

79:49

Corner taken by Ashley Young from the right by-line played to the near post, Danny Graham manages to make a clearance.

79:29

Ashley Young decides to take a short corner.

77:44

Free kick taken by Rio Ferdinand.

77:44 Substitution

Substitution Dimitar Berbatov replaces Wayne Rooney.

77:44

Gylfi Sigurdsson challenges Michael Carrick unfairly and gives away a free kick.

75:00

Scott Sinclair takes a shot. Blocked by Chris Smalling. Corner taken right-footed by Gylfi Sigurdsson to the near post, clearance by Chris Smalling.

73:37

Shot from close range by Wayne Rooney misses to the left of the goal.

73:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michel Vorm by Wayne Rooney. Michel Vorm restarts play with the free kick.

72:07

Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a short corner.

72:07

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gylfi Sigurdsson from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Chris Smalling.

71:53

Centre by Danny Graham, Rio Ferdinand gets a block in.

70:27

Direct free kick taken by Michel Vorm.

70:27 Substitution

Substitution Luke Moore is brought on as a substitute for Nathan Dyer.

70:27 Booking

Booking The referee books Wayne Rooney for unsporting behaviour.

70:22

Wayne Rooney challenges Leon Britton unfairly and gives away a free kick.

69:02

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Smalling on Gylfi Sigurdsson. Gylfi Sigurdsson has an effort direct from the free kick, save by David De Gea. The ball is sent over by Scott Sinclair, save by David De Gea.

68:31

The ball is crossed by Scott Sinclair, clearance by Chris Smalling.

66:59

Ashley Williams takes the free kick.

66:59 Substitution

Substitution Paul Scholes leaves the field to be replaced by Tom Cleverley.

66:59

Unfair challenge on Scott Sinclair by Antonio Valencia results in a free kick.

65:53

Corner taken by Ashley Young, Ashley Williams makes a clearance.

64:53

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ashley Young, Michel Vorm makes a save.

62:15

Shot from deep inside the area by Nathan Dyer clears the bar.

61:21

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Graham on Chris Smalling. Free kick taken by David De Gea.

60:41

Antonio Valencia takes a shot. Comfortable save by Michel Vorm.

59:05

Joe Allen takes a shot. Danny Graham takes a shot. David De Gea makes a comfortable save.

57:45

The ball is sent over by Antonio Valencia, Javier Hernandez has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.

57:20

Ashley Young delivers the ball, Michel Vorm makes a save.

55:18

Wayne Rooney challenges Leon Britton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ashley Williams takes the free kick.

54:12

The ball is swung over by Wayne Rooney.

53:57

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Wayne Rooney.

53:20

Ashley Young takes a shot. Steven Caulker gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young played to the near post, clearance by Danny Graham.

51:46

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young from the left by-line, clearance by Steven Caulker.

51:08

Corner taken right-footed by Gylfi Sigurdsson from the left by-line, Chris Smalling makes a clearance.

50:52

Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a shot. David De Gea makes a save.

50:21

Joe Allen takes a shot. Rio Ferdinand gets a block in.

47:48

Phil Jones produces a cross.

46:35

Foul by Wayne Rooney on Joe Allen, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Leon Britton.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Swansea) makes a substitution, with Leon Britton coming on for Mark Gower.

45:00 +1:16 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +0:57

Foul by Paul Scholes on Joe Allen, free kick awarded. Mark Gower takes the free kick.

45:00 +0:16

Ashley Young takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Chris Smalling has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.

44:49

Ashley Young sends in a cross, Ashley Williams makes a clearance.

42:56

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young played to the near post, save by Michel Vorm.

42:43

Centre by Javier Hernandez, Ashley Williams gets a block in.

40:45

Wayne Rooney provided the assist for the goal. Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a shot. David De Gea makes a save.

40:45 Goal scored

Goal - Ashley Young - Man Utd 2 - 0 Swansea Ashley Young grabs a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man Utd 2-0 Swansea.

40:30

Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Angel Rangel gets a block in.

39:48

Patrice Evra takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Caulker.

39:02

Phil Jones takes a shot. Save made by Michel Vorm.

36:31

The ball is delivered by Phil Jones, Steven Caulker makes a clearance.

35:03

Antonio Valencia takes a shot. Steven Caulker gets a block in.

34:05

Effort on goal by Wayne Rooney from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

31:51

Ashley Young delivers the ball, Javier Hernandez produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

31:25

Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young, save by Michel Vorm.

30:55

Chris Smalling concedes a free kick for a foul on Gylfi Sigurdsson. Mark Gower takes the free kick.

30:31

Phil Jones challenges Neil Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michel Vorm takes the direct free kick.

29:28

The ball is delivered by Ashley Young, Ashley Williams makes a clearance.

28:28

The ball is sent over by Michael Carrick, Javier Hernandez has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the goal.

27:18

Assist on the goal came from Michael Carrick.

27:18 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Scholes - Man Utd 1 - 0 Swansea A goal is scored by Paul Scholes from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man Utd 1-0 Swansea.

27:14

Michael Carrick takes a shot. Paul Scholes gets a block in.

26:29

Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Steven Caulker gets a block in.

25:36

Michael Carrick concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Sinclair. Neil Taylor takes the free kick.

23:50

Danny Graham takes a shot. Save by David De Gea.

19:56

Patrice Evra takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Caulker. Angel Rangel concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Young. Wayne Rooney takes the direct free kick, Ashley Young takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Angel Rangel makes a clearance. Ashley Young takes the outswinging corner, Patrice Evra takes a shot. Michel Vorm makes a save. Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Save made by Michel Vorm. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ashley Williams. Direct free kick taken by Michel Vorm. Ashley Williams has a drilled shot. Rio Ferdinand gets a block in.

19:09

Foul by Angel Rangel on Ashley Young, free kick awarded. Paul Scholes takes the free kick.

17:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Dyer on Patrice Evra. Free kick taken by Patrice Evra.

16:14

Neil Taylor sends in a cross, Patrice Evra makes a clearance.

13:48

Michael Carrick takes a shot. Mark Gower gets a block in.

12:44

Antonio Valencia takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.

12:16

Antonio Valencia sends in a cross.

11:08

Phil Jones crosses the ball.

10:59

The ball is swung over by Ashley Young, Ashley Williams makes a clearance.

9:41

Effort on goal by Nathan Dyer from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.

9:41

Effort on goal by Nathan Dyer from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

9:10

Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Angel Rangel gets a block in.

3:45

Antonio Valencia delivers the ball.

2:55

The ball is sent over by Phil Jones.

0:02

Wayne Rooney fouled by Mark Gower, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Scholes restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association