Manchester United produced another trademark late, late show to beat brave Leicester at Old Trafford.

For 87 minutes Leicester had held firm against United's onslaught as they valiantly defended Simon Royce's goal.

It seemed Peter Taylor's side would become only the third side in 55 matches to deny United a goal at home.

But then fate intervened as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's shot was deflected off team-mate Dwight Yorke and past Royce.

That was tough on Leicester, who had defended so stoutly, and in stoppage time Mikael Silvestre added insult to injury when he scored a second with an angled drive.

Victory moves United 17 points clear in the Premiership and Sir Alex Ferguson's side now need just 11 more from their remaining eight games to claim their seventh title in nine years.

Rookie goalkeeper Paul Rachubka made a dramatic full debut for United after Fabien Barthez was injured in the warm-up.

California-born Rachubka, who is 19, had only made two previous appearances as a substitute in the Worthington Cup this season and the Club World Championship last year.

Once again David Beckham was missing as Ferguson gave the out-of-sorts England captain the weekend off.

Leicester arrived at Old Trafford still smarting from their shock FA Cup defeat by Wycombe last Saturday and manager Taylor responded by taking a well-sharpened axe to his team.

He made five changes as in came Phil Gilchrist, Damien Delaney, who made his Premiership debut, Matt Jones, Junior Lewis and Darren Eadie.

Taylor needed to do something as the Foxes had lost their last six league away matches, while they had won just one of their previous 14 games at Old Trafford.

United began intent on adding to Leicester's away-day woes and Nicky Butt and Solskjaer fired warning shots at Royce's goal.

Denis Irwin, who was captain for the day to mark his 500th United appearance, then floated a great ball over the top to Roy Keane on the right and his near-post cross was cut out by Royce.

United cranked up the pressure a couple more degrees and Keane poked the ball just wide after playing a one-two with Paul Scholes.

Teddy Sheringham then set up Solskjaer with a great lay-off only for Gary Rowett to deflect the Norwegian's shot over the bar for a corner.

For all United's pressure it was Leicester who nearly scored the opening goal on the half-hour mark when Ade Akinbiyi headed over from a great chance.

United were struggling to break down Leicester's massed ranks and they were badly missing the width provided by Beckham and, in particular, Ryan Giggs.

Jonathan Greening, who came in for Luke Chadwick, was making little impression on the right and he kept coming inside too often, while Solskjaer and Phil Neville were not doing much better in their attempts to patrol the left flank.

United went close just before half-time when Keane's dangerous centre was touched away by Royce for a corner.

Ferguson reshuffled his hand at half-time when he replaced Greening with Dwight Yorke in an attempt to sharpen his side's cutting edge.

Yorke went up front alongside Sheringham and Solskjaer moved out to the left wing.

Once again United made virtually all of the running as Leicester played with 10 men behind the ball.

Leicester's defending was becoming increasingly more desperate and a Jaap Stam shot was blocked after Royce could only get a hand to Butt's deep cross.

United switched tact again midway through the half when they brought on Chadwick, who had not even been in the 16 until Barthez's injury, and took off Butt.

Instead it was United's first substitute Yorke who made the next telling contribution when he wastefully headed over from Irwin's great cross. Yorke had been unmarked and the striker knew he should have done better.

It was now like a remake of the Alamo as United threw everything at the Leicester goal and the visitors stuck legs, heads and anything else they had in the way.

With 10 minutes remaining Ferguson played his final card when he threw on Mikael Silvestre.

Scholes then headed wide from Irwin's cross from a great chance and many in the United crowd felt their last opportunity had gone.

But as United have proved so many times in the past, they never give up and in the 87th minute they got their reward when Solskjaer's shot was deflected home.

Leicester were deflated and in stoppage time Silvestre broke down the left and fired home the second goal into the far corner.

Teams

Man Utd: Rachubka, Gary Neville, Irwin, Stam, Phil Neville (Silvestre 80), Greening (Yorke 45), Scholes, Keane, Butt (Chadwick 68), Sheringham, Solskjaer.

Subs Not Used: Wilson, Brown.

Booked: Greening.

Goals: Solskjaer 88, Silvestre 90.

Leicester: Royce, Rowett, Elliott, Gilchrist, Impey, Eadie, Lewis, Jones (Guppy 89), Delaney, Akinbiyi (Benjamin 70), Sturridge (Ellison 84).

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Oakes.

Booked: Delaney.

Att: 67,516

Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood).