Speed makes case for the defence

08 October 2011 07:35

Manager Gary Speed may have seen his side show off their pace and skill in attack, but insisted defensive resilience was the key factor in their 2-0 win over 10-man Switzerland at the Liberty Stadium.

The Dragons continued their recent resurgence as a penalty from Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale's first international goal in a year saw them move off the bottom of Group G of Euro 2012 qualifying, and end Switzerland's hopes of reaching the finals.

"I think in the first half the main thing for me was that we were still in the game," he said

"I told the boys getting to half-time at 0-0 means you always have a chance of winning,"

"They caused us a lot of problems in the first half and had some good opportunities and I was glad to get in at 0-0, as I knew when the game got more open we had the players to hurt them.

"I am pleased with the resilience of our defence and then we went on to win the game."

Speed felt the red card dished out to Reto Ziegler for a studs-high tackle in the 54th minute, with the game still goalless, was harsh, but was in no doubt Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers was correct to award his side the penalty from which Ramsey opened the scoring on the hour, after two earlier appeals for fouls on Bale and Blake had been turned away.

"It was a definite penalty," said Speed.

"We have had five or six good appeals in previous games not given and I had thought it was going to be a case of here we go again, but we got one.

"I thought the sending off was harsh, I thought it was a foul but I did not think it was a red, so you could say we were lucky in that sense."

Source: PA