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JAVIER HERNANDEZ netted the only goal of the game as Manchester United recorded their third win on the spin. Premier League champions United were rocked last month when arch-rivals Manchester City hammered them 6-1 at Old Trafford. But a hat-trick of 1-0 victories has steadied the ship and enabled Alex Ferguson's men to stay within reach of their noisy neighbours.Mexico international international Hernandez struck in the 11th minute, sliding home his fifth goal of the season from Ryan Giggs' pass after Angel Rangel had given the ball away. Scott Sinclair missed Swansea's best chance when he miscued with an empty goal at his mercy. And despite some bright attacking moments, the Welsh side struggled to create against a well-organised United rearguard as they suffered a first home defeat of the campaign. Swansea's brightest moments came during the early stages, with wingers Nathan Dyer and Sinclair looking dangerous. Yet all the promise of an energetic start was undone when Rangel's lazy pass presented the ball to Giggs and the Welshman in turn found Hernandez, who beat Michel Vorm from close range. The goal briefly rocked the hosts but a jinking run from Dyer � which saw him beat Wayne Rooney, Giggs and Patrice Evra � soon had the home fans on their feet. And Swansea should have been level after 22 minutes when a deflected shot from Wayne Routledge found Sinclair with the goal at his mercy. But the ex-Chelsea man somehow managed to miskick and the ball deflected to safety off his standing leg. Swansea largely struggled to find their usual passing rhythm as United pressed high up the field and penned them in. The visitors' increasing comfort saw Rooney � who excelled playing just off Hernandez � flash a long-range drive wide, while Giggs curled a free-kick narrowly off target. Hernandez should have doubled the lead just before half-time but opted to square the ball after Rooney's weighted pass had put him in on goal. With United in control, Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers summoned midfield talent Joe Allen from the bench in place of Routledge. And Allen had an instant impact as he teed up Sinclair for a shot that David de Gea pushed round his post. But United remained dangerous and Hernandez again failed to capitalise on more Rooney magic, this time miscontrolling his strike partner's superb ball towards the six-yard box. Swansea had at least started the second half with more intent and it took a block from Nemanja Vidic to prevent Ashley Williams getting on the end of Garry Monk's goalbound header. Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand then got in the way of on-target efforts from Danny Graham and Williams as the hosts pushed for an equaliser. But having weathered that brief storm United began to boss possession once again, with Carrick's assuredness on the ball taking the sting out of the hosts' attacking ambitions. Rooney had a chance to cap a fine individual display late on but chipped over the bar after getting a lucky ricochet from a Williams block. And there was still time for Phil Jones to clip the post with a right-foot effort before Nani fired narrowly wide in the dying seconds. Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Williams, Monk, Taylor, Sinclair, Routledge (Allen 46), Gower (Dobbie 79), Britton, Dyer, Graham. Subs not used: Tremmel, Lita, Moore, Richards, Moras. Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Fabio 51), Nani, Park, Carrick, Giggs (Fletcher 76), Rooney, Hernandez (Valencia 84). Subs not used: Lindegaard, Evans, Berbatov, Young. Booked: Evra. Goals: Hernandez 11. Att: 20,295 Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).