London - Michael Carrick hit an 86th-minute winner as Manchester United beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 on Wednesday to move within a point of the title.

The win takes United six points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table with two games remaining, meaning a draw in either of their remaining games - at home to Arsenal on Saturday or away to Hull City the following Sunday - will secure the title.

Colombian forward Hugo Rodallega had given Wigan a first half-lead, only for substitute Carlos Tevez to level just after the hour.

And then, with four minutes remaining, Cristiano Ronaldo fed John O'Shea, who slipped the ball to Carrick 20 yards out, and he carved his first away goal for the club past goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

United, though, were made to struggle for the points by an enterprising Wigan side.

Antonio Valencia, who has been linked with a move to United, could have given Wigan an early lead, but after being set clean through his chip drifted just wide.

United settled after that, and constructed a string of flowing passing moves that suggested they could stroll to victory.

Wayne Rooney headed wide from a Ronaldo cross, and then a sliding Carrick scooped over having met a low ball from the Portuguese winger.

Wigan, though, continued to pose a threat on the break, Edwin Van der Sar making a fine diving save to tip Charles N'Zogbia's free-kick round the post.

And then, after 28 minutes, the home side took the lead. Rodallega jumped with Nemanja Vidic for Lee Cattermole's long diagonal, reacted first as the ball dropped, and drilled a low finish in at Van der Sar's near post.

Vidic clearly felt he was pushed, and his protests added an unexpected dash of spite to what had been a placid game.

United were scratchy at the start of the second half as well, but with 58 minutes played, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson withdrew Anderson for Tevez.

The indications are that United will not take up their option to sign the Argentina forward at the end of the season, but he again showed his value.

Three minutes after coming on, Carrick miscued a drive from just outside the box, and Tevez, 10 yards out, reacted sharply to flick the ball past wrong-footed Kingson with the inside of the heel.

It was only his fifth league goal of the season, but when he is on the field, United seem to have a greater fluidity than when he is not.

They were never quite at their best, even with the four in unison, but Carrick's goal meant they were just good enough.(dpa)