Solid Silvestre going for gold

MANCHESTER UNITED head south to Chelsea tomorrow looking for a win which would strip bare the cash-rich Londoners’ title credentials.

As usual this season, their hopes probably rest on a rock-solid defence which has Mikael Silvestre at its heart.

It was not that long ago that Silvestre was seen as a weak link in United's rearguard, speedy and strong for sure, but prone to alarming concentration lapses and too easily drawn out of position.