Gary Speed. Photo / AP
Off-the-field tragedy overshadowed on-the-field drama in the English Premier League yesterday.
Liverpool prevented Manchester City from pulling further clear at the top of the standings but an eventful 1-1 draw, featuring an own-goal equaliser from Joleon Lescott and the third red card of Mario Balotelli's City career, seemed unimportant after news hours earlier that Wales manager Gary Speed had been found dead at age 42.
The Anfield crowd observed a minute's silence before the game in honour of Speed. Asked to do the same, the fans at Swansea's 0-0 draw with Aston Villa instead opted for an impromptu minute's applause and chanted Speed's name.
Villa goalkeeper Shay Given was in tears thinking of his former Newcastle teammate, while Wales striker Craig Bellamy was so upset he was left out of Liverpool's squad.
"It is a devastating loss for football and my heart goes out to Gary Speed's family," Villa manager Alex McLeish said. "We would have understood if Swansea had wanted to cancel the game. We would certainly have agreed with that."
Four members of Speed's Wales squad were involved at Swansea's Liberty Stadium in south Wales. Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor and Joe Allen started for the home side and James Collins lined up for Villa.
"We decided from our end that we wanted to play as a mark of respect for Gary because he was a great man of football," Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers said. "It is just so sad. He had been doing a fantastic job for Wales, and it's a sad day for football."
The match was drab, with substitute Leroy Lita firing narrowly wide with Swansea's best chance.
The game at Anfield was more eventful as Liverpool did old rival Manchester United a favour by becoming only the second team this season to stop unbeaten City winning in the Premier League.
It meant that second-placed United did not pay too dearly for dropping two points against Newcastle on Sunday.
Vincent Kompany put City ahead in the 31st minute when he glanced a header into the top corner from David Silva's corner kick, but Lescott's outstretched leg deflected Charlie Adam's shot past goalkeeper Joe Hart just two minutes later.
Balotelli charged about the field after replacing Samir Nasri in the 65th minute, getting his first yellow card for pulling back Glen Johnson by the shoulder and the second six minutes later for leading with his arm while challenging Martin Skrtel for an aerial ball.
Sent from the field, Balotelli seemed to remonstrate with manager Roberto Mancini before being escorted down the tunnel by a policeman. But Mancini said he had no concerns over the striker, who reportedly damaged the door to the away team's changing room.
"He didn't deserve the second yellow card," Mancini said. "Mario is young. I think he was disappointed with the yellow card."
Hart then made saves from Luis Suarez and with a spectacular one-handed stop from substitute Andy Carroll. Silva could have won it for 10-man City at the other end with a breakaway but his shot was blocked on the line by one of a trio of defenders.
"Manchester City are a top side and have top players and we knew it would be difficult," Adam said. "But we stuck to our guns and we played well."
With 11 wins and two draws from 13 games, City lead defending champion United by five points. United, who last season surpassed Liverpool's 21-year-old record of 18 English titles, drew 1-1 with Newcastle following the award of a penalty to the visitors. AP
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