Just had to giggle reading this about Speed. Whatever he was on, hope he's got enough for the rest of the season...and to share!

Bobby Robson has revealed that he had to tell Gary Speed to ease up after the Newcastle United midfielder seemed intent on taking on Aston Villa on his own in the first half at Villa Park, (writes ALAN OLIVER).

Speed was as fired up as I have ever seen him as the Welsh international tore into Villa in the first half.

And Robson told me today: "I had to tell Gary to ease up at half-time otherwise he was going to run out of steam."

Speed obviously heeded Robson's advice and the midfielder was still going strong at the end, setting up Nobby Solano's 81st-minute equaliser. Speed said: "I knew it was important for us to start well at Villa Park after what happened at Birmingham City on Wednesday night.

"Rob Lee was keeping an eye on Paul Merson so I felt it was up to me to get the tempo going and while there was nothing malicious in my tackles, I got stuck in."

Excellent

Speed constantly held Villa up with some brilliant headed clearances in the first half from deep in his own penalty area.

The Welsh skipper added: "When we lost Aaron Hughes and Alain Goma, I wondered what was going on.

"Throw in the fact that Alan Shearer was missing and we were without our best headers of the ball, so it was important from their corners and free-kicks that we were committed in the air.

"We had to throw ourselves into tackles and the commitment was there that wasn't last Wednesday night.

"Stevie Caldwell and Warren Barton were a different class and Kieron Dyer did well up front, while I thought Clarence Acuna was again excellent alongside me.

"And if we play like this for the rest of the season then we will have nothing to fear."

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2000