Silvestre can rest easy
The French full-back rescued his team with a rare goal at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, nodding home 11 minutes from time to give United a vital 2-1 victory over Leeds.
As the home-side laboured in their search for a winner, it was a perfectly-timed strike, particularly as manager Alex Ferguson was about to haul him off.
Anything other than three points would have almost certainly handed the title to Arsenal, intensifying the air of gloom that descended over the club after their Worthington Cup final defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
On the eve of the game, Ruud van Nistelrooy appeared to be in a virtual state of depression when he appeared on the club's own television station and Silvestre admitted the Cardiff defeat had hit his team-mates hard.
"We had to win so we could put what happened on Sunday behind us," said Silvestre, whose only previous Premiership goal came against Leicester two years ago.
"I have found it really difficult to get to sleep at night because it was so hard losing a final to Liverpool.
"Now we have to focus on other things and by the end of the season I hope my goal proves to be very important."
Silvestre has been one of United's most consistent performers this season, excelling both in his usual left-back role and at centre-half when Rio Ferdinand spent a couple of months on the treatment table in late autumn.
Having picked up a couple of minor knocks in recent weeks, Silvestre is likely to be excused Wednesday's Champions League encounter with FC Basle as Ferguson takes the opportunity to blood some of his younger players in a match which has been rendered meaningless for a United side who have already secured their passage into the last eight.
Having been dumped out of the FA Cup, Ferguson has given all his players a well-deserved two-day break, although Quinton Fortune and Juan Sebastian Veron are both likely to need treatment on the groin and ankle injuries which forced them off on Wednesday night.
With skipper Roy Keane ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury which was probably exacerbated by his refusal to come off Ferguson will be hoping the news of Veron in particular is not too bad.
Meanwhile, Mark Viduka has warned Arsenal not to ease up in the Barclaycard Premiership title race or Manchester United will steal up and snatch their crown.
The Leeds striker was on target at Old Trafford for the second successive season but still finished on the losing side.
The outcome was shrouded in controversy as Viduka was denied what he felt was a clear penalty by referee Graham Poll while the scores were still level.
Yet despite his disappointment, the burly Australian could not disguise his admiration for a United side who maintained an unbeaten home record against Leeds which stretches back to 1981.
"You can never rule out Manchester United," he said.
"They have such good players and seem to create chances whenever they want.
"In Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer they have two strikers capable of scoring a lot of goals, but as last night proved, they can get them from anywhere.
"I know Arsenal have a five point lead but if they ease off in any way, Manchester United can take advantage."
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