Manchester United outgunned Coventry in their own thrilling sequel to High Noon to edge ever closer to the Premiership title.

Hitmen Dwight Yorke and John Hartson began the shoot-out at Old Trafford when they each scored twice in the first half.

Then just when Coventry felt they might hold out for a precious point in the fight against relegation, United made the breakthrough with an unlikely Ryan Giggs header nine minutes from time.

They then made sure of the points when Paul Scholes fired home their fourth goal six minutes later and United now need just one more win - or an Arsenal loss - to secure the title.

Defeat was tough on Coventry, who made the champions fight all the way. They battled throughout and if they are going to do down then they intend to go down fighting.

In a portent of the ding-dong battle which was to follow, they had opened the scoring after 10 minutes with the first chance of the game.

Andy Goram, who made his United debut a day after his 37th birthday, saved Hartson's first effort but from the rebound the Welsh international tucked the ball home.

The jubilant Coventry fans had barely settled into their seats when United equalised two minutes later.

Yorke picked up a stray Coventry pass and confidently drove home from 20 yards past Chris Kirkland to register the latest high in his rollercoaster season.

United kept up the pressure and Nicky Butt twice went close either side of a stern ticking off for Hartson after he had caught Gary Neville with his elbow.

Back came Coventry and John Eustace saw a drive deflected wide for a corner after Mikael Silvestre's error had let in David Thompson.

United scored again on 27 minutes when Giggs played a short corner to Roy Keane and he floated the ball in for Yorke, who had beaten Coventry's offside trap, to beat Kirkland from close range for his 12th goal of the campaign.

Kirkland denied United a third when he blocked a powerful Keane drive but Coventry, with their Premiership future on the line, refused to lie down and they almost snatched an equaliser.

Craig Bellamy sent across a teasing ball from the left which Thompson connected with at the back post only for Goram to make a great block.

That was just a temporary reprieve for United and 30 seconds later in the 32nd minute the Sky Blues levelled when Hartson outjumped Wes Brown to head home his fifth goal for Coventry.

In the next couple of frantic minutes both sides spurned great chances to nose ahead.

First Yorke fluffed a glorious chance at the back post from Andy Cole's cross before Eustace dragged a shot across goal after he had been played in by Paul Telfer.

After a brief lull in proceedings in front of another Premiership record crowd of 67,637, the tempo increased again.

Scholes played in Yorke only for the United striker to overrun the ball and he laid it back to Neville, whose angled drive was touched away by Kirkland for a corner.

Goram then needlessly conceded an indirect free-kick 12 yards out when he picked up Jaap Stam's backpass but Scholes managed to block Marcus Hall's shot.

Keane was livid when he was denied a free-kick on the edge of the area for a challenge by Telfer and was spoken to by referee Mike Riley.

The Reds skipper almost exacted his own revenge when his stinging drive was touched away by Kirkland for a another corner.

Goram's big day came to a premature end midway through the half when Ferguson took him off and brought on Raimond van der Gouw.

Ferguson also introduced David Beckham for Butt as he stepped up the search for a winner.

United continued to pressure the Coventry goal and the impressive Kirkland saved bravely at the feet of Cole, after great work down the left by Giggs, before Yorke missed another chance on the right.

Then just as Coventry were beginning to believe they might earn a draw United came up with a late winner for the second match in succession.

With nine minutes remaining Neville crossed from the right and Giggs looped home a header from 12 yards out.

Scholes then wrapped up victory when he drove home a fierce shot from 25 yards to send the United fans and his team-mates wild with jubilation.

Teams

Man Utd: Goram (Van Der Gouw 66), Gary Neville, Brown, Stam, Silvestre, Scholes, Keane, Butt (Beckham 70), Giggs, Cole (Solskjaer 81), Yorke.

Subs Not Used: Sheringham, Phil Neville.

Booked: Brown.

Goals: Yorke 12, 27, Giggs 81, Scholes 87.

Coventry: Kirkland, Quinn, Breen, Shaw, Hall, Bellamy, Eustace (Williams 78), Telfer (Chippo 63), Carsley, Thompson, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Hedman, Edworthy, Bothroyd.

Booked: Hartson, Thompson, Breen, Williams.

Goals: Hartson 10, 33.

Att: 67,637

Ref: M Riley (Leeds).