Speed: over-physical complaints down to our winning run

BOLTON are causing shock waves again because they have gone back to their roots, according to Gary Speed.

The veteran midfielder is also refusing to apologise for their abrasive style ahead of the vital UEFA Cup game against Red Star tonight. Strikers Kevin Davies and El-Hadji Diouf have come in for criticism recently because of their apparently abrasive methods.

Davies had a running battle with Patrice Evra in the splendid home victory against Manchester United. Then Diouf was roundly condemned for a challenge on Arvalo Arbeloa in the 4-0 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday.

“This has come about because we have beaten Manchester United,” Speed said. “Hopefully in the future we will be seen to be over-physical because we are winning games.”

Speed is adamant Bolton have not stepped over the line. “The referee is there to sort things out, ” he said. “So if we are over the top he will sort it out. Davies made one tackle against Manchester United — that was it. But it was the fact we won the game that created the issues afterwards.”

Manager Gary Megson said: “What I sincerely hope does not happen is that people do not start believing we are an over-physical team because of all this stuff about Diouf and Davies.”

Under Megson, Bolton have reverted to the methods favoured by former boss Sam Allardyce.

Sammy Lee tried to change the way the team played but a string of poor results saw him leave the Reebok Stadium. “When we play long ball, we are seen as a long ball team. When Chelsea play it, they are a great team,” Speed said. “We have got to play in a way that gives us a chance of winning the game.”

After three successive draws, Bolton need a victory to improve their prospects of progressing to the last 32.

However Megson has opted to leave Davies, Nicolas Anelka, Kevin Nolan, Andy O’Brien, Ricardo Gardner and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen at home with a game to come on Sunday against fellow strugglers Wigan.

Speed insists the stand-ins can rise to the task in the hostile environment of Red Star’s stadium. Red Star dropped into the UEFA Cup after losing 1-0 to Rangers on aggregate in the Champions League.