Given plays through the pain

NOTHING painted a more pertinent picture than the pain expressed on the face of Shay Given yesterday.

As the Republic of Ireland number one wept uncontrollably, it was clear this was no ordinary occasion.

The death of Gary Speed had sent shock-waves around the world of football but for his close friends and former teammates, this was something they were struggling to overcome amid the backdrop of emotion in Wales.

Forget the stalemate, this was about somehow getting through 90 minutes as quick as possible.

Given, a close friend who had spent many a summer holiday with his former Newcastle colleague, struggled to hold back the tears as a minute’s silence turned into an applause.

He wasn’t the only one.

Bobby Gould, the man who had appointed Speed as his Wales captain, choked back the tears, John Hartson was too upset to stay and watch the game while Kevin Ratcliffe, who had played golf with Speed barely 48 hours earlier, looked white as a sheet.

“We will all get in our cars and drive away from here tonight with one question — why?” said Gould.

“We’ll ask that question a number of times. Hopefully we’ll get answers.”

At least Wales, where Speed was transforming the country’s fortunes as manager, could offer their own special tribute on the day of such heartbreak.

“I’m just devastated,” said James Collins, the Aston Villa defender. “It’s a sad loss, of a man who was doing great, great things for Welsh football. I played with him as well for a long time, so it was hard to even play the game today.

“We knew two hours before, just when we were getting to the ground. It was heart breaking.

“Shay [Given] was obviously devastated, the same as everyone. Shay was very close with him and you could see that in the minute’s silence.

“He was so emotional that you didn’t know if he was going to play the game. That just says it all, how seriously affected everyone’s lives are.”

Brendan Rodgers, the Swansea manager, is no stranger to grief given both his parents have died in the last 18 months.

Rodgers explained that the match with Villa went ahead as a “mark of respect” to Speed.

“The news came as such a bombshell just before the game,” he said. “It was a terrible irony that we were playing a match here in Wales and a Welsh legend, a proper great of football, has passed away.

“Alex [McLeish] spoke to his players I spoke to mine, and we decided we would want to play the game as a mark of respect for a great man of football, because that’s what he was.”

Rodgers’ side included three Wales players, and he said: “Considering what had happened, their performances [of the Welsh internationals] were unbelievable.

“Maybe it was fitting it was a point each. It would have been difficult to celebrate after such shocking news.”

The low-key atmosphere was reflected in the match that all paled into insignificance.

As it was, Swansea rode their luck with Gabriel Agbonlahor forcing Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm into saves in either half.

Other chances went begging, with Chris Herd wasting the visitors’ best opening by heading a Charles N’Zogbia cross wide in the dying moments.

While the Welsh side dominated possession, their only real noteworthy attempt arrived in the 81st minute through substitute Leroy Lita.

Of course, Given, the true professional that he is, proved outside influences hadn’t affected his performance as he was out bravely to block the shot.

“My blood ran cold, my players were very upset pre-match,” revealed McLeish.

“I was worried about losing Given, Collins was white as a sheet and Jermaine Jenas played as his midfield partner at Newcastle, so these guys were extremely distraught.”