Wigan 1 United 2

United moved to the brink of the Barclays Premier League title with a pulsating second-half performance and two wonderful goals at Wigan.

Man of the moment Carlos Tevez came off the bench to equalise before midfield maestro Michael Carrick sealed a superb away win for the champions with five minutes remaining. This rally put Steve Bruce’s plucky Wigan side to the sword and no doubt destroyed the morale of a certain club on Merseyside, who’d no doubt been buoyed by Hugo Rodallega’s shock opener for the home team.

Sir Alex made five changes to his derby-winning side, the return of John O’Shea, Anderson, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney suggesting this eleven was picked with the Reds’ next midweek fixure in mind, the Champions League final.

United were given an early fright when Antonio Valencia’s searing pace enabled him to break between Jonny Evans and Nemanja Vidic close to the halfway line and carry the ball menacingly into the box. Fortunately, the Reds’ senior centre-back made a sufficiently quick recovery to put the Ecuadorian off his stride, Valencia chipping his shot off target from six yards instead of beating Edwin van der Sar.

The Reds crafted two better opportunities to take the lead in quick succession around the 10th minute, with Dimitar Berbatov involved in both. First the Bulgarian laid on a peach of a right-wing cross that Rooney, so often the scourge of Wigan, unfortunately headed wide. Then Berbatov fed Cristiano Ronaldo and his low centre, again from the right, was steered agonisingly over the top left corner by Michael Carrick.

Charles N’Zogbia succeeded where Valencia had failed by forcing a fine save from Van der Sar; the Dutchman diving to his right to flick away the former Newcastle midfielder’s curling free-kick. Van der Sar’s next stop was more straightforward, gathering a low shot into his midriff after Evans misjudged a header and Wigan’s lone striker Hugo Rodallega made a Valencia-style surge forward.

The Colombian wasn’t to be denied with his next effort, however; after leaping with Vidic to contest a long pass forward, he reacted quickest as the ball dropped and lashed a close-range shot past van der Sar to give Wigan a shock lead. Vidic was incensed – he felt Rodallega had unfairly impeded him in their duel and TV replays supported this claim. Match referee Rob Styles, however, had no such view and a few minutes later he summoned van der Sar, as captain, and Vidic for a lecture on dissent.

Styles remained a central figure as Wigan’s muscular approach rattled a few men in red shirts but no serious punishment was delivered, either from the referee’s pocket or from the right boot of Ronaldo in a dead-ball situation. If Lee Cattermole upset Michael Carrick with a rash challenge, he almost embossed his villain status with an accurate shot that was well held by van der Sar, then a back-heel which helped to tee up Rodallega for an effort that only just skidded wide in first-half injury time. There was still time for United to attempt an equaliser but when Vidic’s deflected shot flew over the bar and the whistle blew, his grimace was apt for a first half of frustration.

Neither manager made a personnel change at the break, instead sending out the same players to grapple on the greasy surface, at least for the next ten minutes. One muscular tussle in this spell drew cries of ‘penalty’ from the vocal away support, only for

Styles to rightly permit Paul Scharner’s perfectly executed tackle on Rooney.

The next piece of precision in Wigan’s box brought United onto level terms – courtesy of ‘impact substitute’ Carlos Tevez just minutes after replacing Anderson. The Argentine’s introduction instantly put the Latics on red alert but they were left red-faced when, with his back to the target, Carlos diverted Carrick’s shot home with a sublime flick. It was his fifth league goal of the season and undoubtedly his finest, not to mention the most important bar his Boxing Day winner at Stoke City.

The Reds had a more legitimate shout for a penalty when Ronaldo, at full tilt, tumbled after a collision with Latics’ left-back Maynor Figueroa but referee Styles rejected the appeals of the aghast Portuguese.

Sir Alex swopped his veterans as the game entered its nail-biting final phase, taking off Scholes and sending on Giggs, a decisive scorer in last season’s glorious corresponding fixture.

United’s sumptuous second-half football deserved a second goal and it fittingly came from one of many sweeping team moves. The ball flowed from Vidic to Ronaldo and on to O’Shea, and when the Irishman cut back to the edge of the area, Carrick stepped up to fire a stunning left-foot shot into the top left-hand corner.

Ecstatic Reds rushed from every position to celebrate the goal; another positive result in a few days’ time and those same players will be celebrating the ultimate triumph.

Boss praises gutsy display

Sir Alex Ferguson saluted the spirit and determination of his side after Michael Carrick’s late winner put United to within one point of retaining the league title.

The boss had been given plenty to say at half-time by Wigan taking a shock lead.

“The first thing I told the players at the break was to keep their discipline," Sir Alex said.

"You can’t beat the referee, so I told them, 'Keep your mouth shut and play the game.' I think we improved from there.”

“We just had to be patient. We were against a very determined, tough Wigan side but I thought we were the better team. It was a real gutsy performance."

Carrick's stunning strike and Tevez's sublime equaliser were enough to give United a vital triumph but there could have been more goals, not least from Cristiano Ronaldo - a fact that was noted but not condemned by his manager.

“Cristiano could probably have scored a hat-trick tonight," admitted Sir Alex. "He normally hits the target and makes the goalkeeper work but it was just one of those nights I suppose, it happens. He still has an unbelievable scoring rate, particularly recently.”

United can now secure a third successive title with a home draw on Saturday. However, Sir Alex only has eyes for maximum points.

“I think we’ll approach the game we always do, we’ll try and win. We know we're up against a very good Arsenal side and we'll need to perform. Hopefully we will do.”

Carrick eyes perfect end

"I think three of my goals this season have been scored with my left foot.

"I was just concentrating on hitting the target and once I saw it was going in, I was off to celebrate it. I nearly broke Wazza’s neck with the celebration but he’s all right now."

- Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick's first away goal for United means the Reds are more likely to win the title at home this Saturday.

The midfielder's stunning 86th-minute strike at the JJB Stadium turned a battling draw with Wigan into a hard-fought victory and reduced the league points required in the remaining two games - at home to Arsenal, then Hull away - to just one.

"It was a massive three points for us tonight," Carrick told MUTV.

"Obviously it now looks good for us. I think it's only been done once before, winning the title at home, so it would be great if we can do it again. But we’re not getting carried away, we’ve got to respect Arsenal for how good they are. We know we’ve still got a job to do."

It was job done at Wigan thanks to two Carrick shots - one turned in by Carlos Tevez and the other that flew direct past Wigan goalkeeper Richard Kingson into the top left-hand corner.

"it was an up and down night in front of goal for me but we won the game and I’m delighted with that," said Carrick.

"My goal made up for the chance I missed in the first half really. I was just concentrating on hitting the target and once I saw it was

Live : Wigan v United

Victory at Wigan this evening will put United within touching distance of a third successive league title.

If you don't have a ticket for the game, there are three ways you can follow the action live via ManUtd.com and MUmobile.

Adam Bostock is providing live text updates on the game's key moments in Match Tracker. You can chip in by posting in the Match Tracker thread on our message board.

You can also follow events with Mickey Thomas and the Key 103 team with live radio commentary on MUTV Online.

If you're heading out, sign up to MUmobile's text alerts for goals, penalties and cards direct to your phone. You also get team news plus half-time and full-time summaries.

Live coverage begins at 19:45 BST, 15 minutes before kick-off.

Our in-depth post-match coverage includes Steve Bartram's match report, reaction from Sir Alex and the lads and our player ratings feature.

Read all this and more on ManUtd.com or on your phone at wap.manutd.com.

Boss admires Bruce's craft

Sir Alex Ferguson admits he has been impressed by Steve Bruce's impact since taking the reins at Wednesday's opponents Wigan Athletic.

Former United captain Bruce, who played 309 games in nine years with the Reds, has transformed the Lancashire outfit from relegation fodder into European hopefuls.

Sir Alex said: “He’s built a very powerful, athletic team and although they had a bad start to the season, they came back with great rattle and got themselves into a UEFA position. They may have tailed off a bit from that now but Brucie’s still done a great job."

The United legend succeeded Chris Hutchings as Wigan boss in November 2007, having twice guided Birmingham City into the top flight during a six-year tenure. The Latics were then languishing in the relegation zone but some astute signings by Bruce in the January transfer window helped them secure survival in the Barclays Premier League with one game remaining - the game the Reds won at Wigan to clinch the 2007/08 title.

Bruce strengthened his side further last summer, notably with the purchase of prolific Egyptian striker Amir Zaki, and in his first full season as manager he has guided the club to a comfortable mid-table position.

Several of Wigan’s star performers, including Antonio Valencia and Wilson Palacios (now of Spurs) have been linked with moves to Old Trafford in the past, but Sir Alex feels that the days of the Latics being a selling club could soon be over.

The United boss added: “I think their players will recognise the steps forward they’ve taken, there’s been progress and that’s important.”

Match Pack : Wigan

Can United move to within one point of the title by beating Wigan at the JJB stadium?

Form Guide: Wigan are without a win in the last five games but sitting 11th in the Barclays Premier League, they are safe and have little to play for other than pride. However, Steve Bruce is likely to fire up the troops as he faces his former club and manager. Sunday’s 2-0 derby win over Manchester City leaves United needing just four points to secure a third successive title. The Reds come into the game on the back of six straight wins and will look to emulate last season’s display at the JJB where a 2-0 win sealed the title.

Ins and Outs: Wigan’s Egyptian striker Mido is a doubt with a shoulder injury whilst Korean defender Won-Hee Cho is out with a calf strain. Rio Ferdinand could return after missing the derby and Gary Neville may feature after recovering from injury. Long-term absentees Wes Brown (ankle) and Owen Hargreaves (knee) will not be involved.

Star Man: Antonio Valencia has been linked with a potential move to Old Trafford this summer after impressing for Steve Bruce’s Wigan team. With three goals and five assists, Valencia has become indispensible at the JJB and is a clear threat to the Reds' defence.

Rivals Watch: United’s trip to Wigan is the only top-flight fixture on Wednesday.

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire) has taken charge of the Reds on three occasions this season, most recently in the 2-1 win at Sunderland. He has awarded seven red and 24 yellow cards in 24 games, averaging 3.46 cards a game.