Speed, 42, discovered by his wife, hung himself in their home in Huntington, England on 27 November 2011.  He was captain of the Wales national football team until he retired from international football in 2004 and remains the most capped outfield player for Wales. He was appointed manager of Wales in 2010 after leaving the position of Sheffield United manager that same year.

Speed, who leaves behind a wife and two children, had appeared on BBC One’s Football Focus show on Saturday afternoon, just hours before his death.

View the video below:

With the crowd scarcely believing their eyes, striker Carlton Cole added two second half goals as the Premier League’s bottom team blew away United’s 29-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal overcame Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the other all-Premier League quarterfinal clash on a freezing night in the capital.

Birmingham City host top flight rivals Aston Villa, last season’s losing finalists, in a Midlands derby on Wednesday when Roy Keane’s struggling Championship (second division) side Ipswich Town are at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Manchester United, top of the league and winners of the League Cup for the past two seasons, made wholesale changes from the side that blew aside Blackburn Rovers 7-1 at the weekend and were given a taste of their own medicine.

“To perform like this against the best team today in the country… what more could I ask for?,” West Ham manager Avram Grant told Sky Sports television after steering the club into the last four for the first time in 20 years.

“I thought we could win but not by this score.”

Even with a young side, Alex Ferguson’s men were still fancied to see off the league’s tail-enders but United States defender Spector, playing in a central midfield role, ripped up the script with his first goals in English soccer.

Spector, who spent three years on Manchester United’s books and made just eight starts before moving to Charlton Athletic on loan and then joining West Ham in 2006, opened the scoring with a looping 22nd minute header off a Victor Obinna cross.

The 24-year-old, who last played for West Ham when they lost to United in August, made it 2-0 in the 37th when Obinna again caused mayhem in the area and Spector lashed a loose ball home at the near post.

West Ham thought they had scored after 17 minutes when Obinna’s shot was deflected into the net off Spector, who was belatedly but correctly ruled offside by referee Mark Clattenburg.

Ferguson said his side, despite including experienced players like Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher, had let in some “terrible goals” and been punished, even if they would learn from the mistakes.

“Too many younger players who made real errors in their goals… really you can’t give away goals like that even though they are young,” he told Sky Sports.

“Today West Ham approached it as more of a cup tie, they got stuck in with a lot of late challenges and things like that but they got the crowd up for them. But the game was about the goals we gave away really.”

Arsenal, making nine changes from the side that beat Aston Villa 4-2 away in the league on Saturday, started slowly but took the lead three minutes before the break through an own goal by captain Antolin Alcaraz.

The Gunners made it 2-0 in the 67th when Nicklas Bendtner bundled the ball in at the far post but they missed plenty more chances.

Wigan had forward Victor Moses carried off on a stretcher in the first half with a suspected broken wrist.

Source: supersport.co.za

Pic: goal.com

Hernandez came off the bench to secure victory at Old Trafford in the last minute of normal time in Tuesday night’s fourth-round tie and keep alive United’s quest to become the first side to win the trophy three times in a row.

Bebe, the relatively-unknown striker signed in the summer for £7.4million from Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes, crowned a promising first start with a fortunate opening goal before George Elokobi equalised.

Park Ji-Sung made it 2-1 to the home side but Kevin Foley hauled Wolves level again before Hernandez’s excellent finish took United into Saturday’s quarter-final draw.

Sir Alex Ferguson made 11 changes and Wolves boss Mick McCarthy seven, and the first half in a quiet Old Trafford, with plenty of empty seats, was a dismal affair.

United’s striker Gabriel Obertan and Federico Macheda were poor, the best chance coming when Macheda sent a shot straight at Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey after Bebe’s scuffed centre ended up at his feet.

The second half opened with more apparent problems for United as Matt Jarvis rampaged down the right and sent over a ball to the far post that Steven Fletcher met with a cracking left-foot volley which went wide.

Darron Gibson gave United encouragement with a swerving free-kick that was on target, the only problem being that it swerved straight into Hennessey’s arms.

Park looked certain to score when Michael Carrick feigned to shoot and instead played a delicious pass to set the Korean free but Hennessey pulled off a stunning block.

It finally needed a touch of fortune – and an excellent decision by assistant referee Darren Cann – to see United take the lead.

Bebe did well to muscle past Elokobi but his deflected cross went right over the Wolves keeper and dropped over the line. Foley thought he had headed the ball off the line but Cann waved his flag for a goal, and TV replays showed the World Cup final linesman had judged it perfectly.

No sooner had United taken the lead then Wolves equalised. Fabio’s brilliant block

denied Stephen Hunt but from the corner Elokobi rose superbly and thumped a header into the goal.

Macheda, of whom so much was expected, continued to disappoint when he hooked over from Bebe’s astute pass – he should have scored.

Despite that miss the goals kept coming, first when Park put United 2-1 up. It was his driving run that took the ball into the heart of Wolves territory and it came back to him somewhat fortuitously after Macheda lost control, and Park placed the ball neatly into the corner of the net.

Once more however Wolves came back with a nice build-up involving Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and a flick from Fletcher to set up Foley who fired through Jonny Evans’ legs past Ben Amos.

It could have been worse for United when Ebanks-Blake sidestepped Chris Smalling and hammered a terrific shot with a minimum of backlift only to see it skim past the upright.

With extra-time approaching Ferguson took off the tired-looking Bebe, and sent on the weekend’s goalscoring hero Hernandez.

The young Mexican was immediately influential, sending Obertan sprinting in on goal but his finish was once again disappointing, flashed wide with only the keeper to beat.

Hernandez’s class finally made the difference in the very last minute of normal time when he left two Wolves defenders in a heap and lifted the ball coolly over Hennessey.

Source + Pic: football365.com

The shock of the third round came at Anfield, where a virtual reserve Liverpool team were beaten 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out by Northampton, languishing near the bottom of the fourth tier of English football.

Serbian striker Milan Jovanovic looked to have set Premier League Liverpool on their way after nine minutes, rifling in a low left foot shot.

But Roy Hodgson’s side were stunned when Billy McKay hooked in an equaliser for the League Two outfit, forcing the match into extra time.

Eight minutes later, the unthinkable occurred as Michael Jacobs put Northampton ahead. It looked like being enough until David Ngog struck on 116 minutes to send the game into a the shoot-out with the score at 2-2.

The fairytale looked over when Steve Guinan skied the first spot-kick of the shoot-out for the Cobblers.

But subsequent misses by Ngog and youngster Nathan Eccleston left Northampton striker Abdul Osman with a shot for glory and the forward made no mistake, beating Liverpool keeper Brad Jones to trigger joyous scenes.

The defeat was the latest disappointment for Liverpool, who have struggled to make any kind of impression in the league where they are lying in 16th place, already 10 points behind leaders Chelsea.

Chelsea were beaten 4-3 by Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, where not even the returning John Terry could stifle the Magpies, who recovered from an early Patrick van Aanholt goal to prevail in a seven-goal thriller.

Newcastle looked to be cruising to victory after taking a 3-1 lead early in the second half with goals from Nile Ranger, Ryan Taylor and Shola Ameobi.

Chelsea’s problems deepened when Yossi Benayoun limped off with an injury after the Blues had already made their three substitutions, forcing the home side to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.

However Chelsea fought back to level with two goals from Nicolas Anelka, the equaliser coming from the penalty spot with only three minutes left.

An epic encounter was settled on 90 minutes though when Ameobi nodded in a header to settle a pulsating encounter.

In another upset, West Bromwich Albion ratcheted up the pressure on Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini after the Baggies downed their free-spending opponents 2-1 at the Hawthorns.

Gianni Zuiverloon and Simon Cox got the goals for West Brom after Jo had given City an early lead.

Manchester United were forced to fight back from a goal down in their visit to Championship strugglers Scunthorpe, who took a 19th-minute lead via a rasping Josh Wright shot.

But United, fielding an experimental line-up in the absence of Sir Alex Ferguson, struck back quickly through Darron Gibson before eventually over-running their hosts.

Defender Chris Smalling put United ahead on 36 minutes before former England international Michael Owen (2) and Park Ji-Sung put United 5-1 up. Martyn Woolford netted a late consolation for The Iron.

Aston Villa got new manager Gerard Houllier’s reign off to a winning start after coming back from a goal down at Villa Park to defeat Blackburn 3-1.

Gael Givet had fired Rovers ahead with a low drive before substitute Emile Heskey levelled after coming off the bench for John Carew on 58 minutes.

A quick-fire brace from Ashley Young, netting in the 75th and 77th minutes, settled the tie.

There was another come-from-behind victory at the DW Stadium, where Wigan scored twice in five minutes late on to beat Preston 2-1.

Keith Treacy had put Preston ahead on 23 minutes but Wigan levelled through Jordi Gomez in the 87th minute before Charles N’Zogbia poached the winner in the second minute of stoppage time.

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

The Gunners required extra time to clinch victory at White Hart Lane, and they were grateful for two unnecessary tugs of the shirt as Samir Nasri converted twice from the penalty spot in the 92nd and 96th minute.

Wenger opted for a far stronger side than Arsenal fans have become accustomed to in recent Carling Cup campaigns, naming Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Laurent Koscielny and Denilson all in the starting XI. However, it was 19-year-old Henri Lansbury who broke the deadlock, poking home his first Arsenal goal after a fine cross from Jack Wilshere.

The Gunners enjoyed 67% of possession in the first half, but Redknapp introduced Robbie Keane at the interval and he equalised within three minutes, sliding a shot past the weak left hand of Lukasz Fabianski who should have saved it.

Both sides had chances to finish the match inside 90 minutes, but extra time was needed to separate the teams. Sebastien Bassong and Steven Caulker both conceded penalties in the five first minutes of the additional period, with Nasri sending Spurs’ new goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa the wrong way on both occasions to carry Arsenal into round four. Andrei Arshavin then fired home a fourth for a jubilant Gunners side.

Brentford produced the shock result of the night, beating Everton 4-3 on penalties after holding the Merseysiders to a 1-1 draw. David Moyes must have had a few choice words with his side following the weekend defeat to Newcastle, and they responded with a bright opening at Griffin Park, taking the lead when Diniyar Bilyaletdinov set up Seamus Coleman to smash home.

However, Brentford were level by the break, with Gary Alexander heading home following a magnificent burst of speed from Miles Weston. No goals followed, which meant penalties, and Jermaine Beckford and Phil Jagielka both missed for the Premier League club.

It was a disappointing return to Turf Moor for Owen Coyle as his Bolton side were beaten 1-0by Burnley. Coyle was greeted by plenty of jeers and bank notes as he returned to his former club, where the Burnley faithful still haven’t completely forgiven him for jumping ship last season. But things got worse for the Bolton manager as Wade Elliott controversially grabbed the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time, the linesman judging that the ball had marginally crossed the line.

West Ham built on their first point of the season, earned at Stoke on Saturday, defeatingSunderland 2-1 to advance to the fourth round of the Carling Cup. The Hammers left Carlton Cole on the bench for their trip to the North East, and they were rewarded with a brilliant finish from Frederic Piquionne as they stunned the home crowd on 35 minutes.

The lead lasted all of six minutes as Asamoah Gyan, making his first Sunderland start, headed home an equaliser before half time. But Scott Parker and Pablo Barrera continued to play some quality football after the break, and on the hour they got their reward as the latter set up Victor Obinna to net the winner for West Ham.

Wolves were forced to come from behind to beat Notts County 4-2 after extra time at Molineux. Former West Brom striker Lee Hughes received abuse all night from the home crowd, but it was he who broke the deadlock in the second half, heading home before receiving a yellow card after he revealed a “Boing boing” message to the home fans on his t-shirt.

Wolves struggled to fashion chances as they battled for a way back into the match, but Liam Chilvers was sent off with seven minutes remaining for a foul that led to a Wolves penalty, and Nenad Milijas converted from 12 yards to force extra time. The numerical advantage told during the additional period, with Kevin Doyle (2) and Steven Fletcher both getting on the scoresheet for Wolves.

Stoke made the most of Fulham’s weakness at set-pieces, exposed by Blackburn at the weekend, booking their place in the fourth round with a 2-0 victory. The first half became a feisty affair at the Britannia Stadium following a poor challenge on Moussa Dembele, and Danny Murphy may count himself fortunate to have only seen yellow after throwing the ball in the face of Ryan Shawcross.

Stoke did punish the Cottagers before half time through Danny Higginbotham, who arrived unmarked inside the area to head home Matthew Etherington’s deep corner. And then Rory Delap launched a trademark long throw deep into the second half for Kenwyne Jones to kill the game off.

Birmingham enjoyed a Tuesday night stroll past MK Dons, with summer captures Alexander Hleb and Jean Beausejour shining in an easy 3-1 victory for the Premier League side. Blues blitzed their visitors in a marvellous first 45 minutes at St Andrew’s that saw Beausejour instantly make himself a fans’ favourite.

The Chile international provided assists for the opening two goals, supplying a cross for Hleb to score on his home debut and then for Nikola Zigic to convert a carbon copy second. Craig Gardner then bagged his fourth goal of the season after replacing the injured Michel, before Aaron Wilbraham netted a late consolation for the visitors.

Millwall completed a horror week on home turf by crashing out 2-1 to fellow Championship side Ipswich. The Lions were looking to bounce back from their 6-1 weekend defeat to Watford, but there were more boos from the New Den crowd by half time after a much-changed Ipswich side built a two-goal lead.

Boasting eight changes, Roy Keane’s side led through Tamas Priskin’s header, and then Gareth McAuley’s shot slipped through the goalkeeper’s grasp as things went from bad to worse for the home side. Steve Morison outmuscled his marker to halve the deficit on the hour, but Ipswich deservedly advanced to the next round.

Elsewhere, Swansea had Scott Sinclair to thank as they beat Peterborough 3-1. Sinclair has been in sparkling form this season, and it was he who made the difference, bagging a hat-trick to take his personal tally to seven in the last six games. Craig Mackail-Smith scored for Peterborough.

And Portsmouth came off second best against Leicester, missing a host of chances in a 2-1defeat at Fratton Park. Michael Morrison opened the scoring for the Foxes, who doubled their lead through Lloyd Dyer before Richard Hughes earned a straight red card for foul and abusive language. Liam Lawrence halved the deficit with eight minutes remaining, but Leicester clung on for victory.

Source + Pic: soccernet.espn.go.com

Rooney, who came on as a substitute for United’s other scorer Michael Owen, struck with a superbly executed header after 74 minutes, for his 20th goal in his last 20 matches, as United became the first team since Nottingham Forest (in 1989 and 1990) to win the cup in successive seasons.

Rooney, who started on the bench as he had a sore knee, told reporters: “It’s great to have this cup again, it means a lot to win a Wembley final and I am delighted to score the winner, but it’s another great day for the club and the fans.”

Aston Villa, the first winners of the trophy in 1961, and victors over Manchester United in 1994, took the lead after five minutes when James Milner scored from the penalty spot, but were often second best against a dominant United, who also hit the post twice.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill thought United defender Nemanja Vidic should have been sent off for his foul that led to the penalty.

He told reporters: “It was plain for all to see. It was an inexplicable decision. I don’t understand it.

“It’s a goal scoring opportunity. He’s felled in the penalty area. It’s straightforward from an otherwise fine referee who’s got it wrong.”

Owen brought United back into the game with a 13th minute equaliser, swept home with a sweet first touch that would have impressed the watching England manager Fabio Capello. However, he was forced off after 42 minutes with a hamstring injury.

United also went close to scoring when Ji-Sung Park hit the post and Rooney headed against the post two minutes after scoring. Villa also hit the woodwork when an Emile Heskey header bounced off the United bar late in the game.

Despite their undoubted superiority, the outcome might have been very different if Vidic had been dismissed for his challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor, which led to Villa’s penalty.

Vidic tugged at Agbonlahor’s shirt and tripped him with an out-stretched leg. He was extremely fortunate not to be shown either a yellow or a red card by referee Phil Dowd.

Vidic said afterwards: “I don’t think I deserved a red card as I did not tackle him from behind, but I admit it was definitely a penalty. If you look at the TV you will be able to see the angle clearly and be able to judge it better.”

However, United were punished when Milner swept home the penalty, sending goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak the wrong way.

Agbonlahor continued to stretch the United defence, without injured centre-back Rio Ferdinand, every time Villa attacked, but while they could not add to their early goal, United did find a way through the Villa backline after 13 minutes.

Dimitar Berbatov took the ball out of Richard Dunne’s possession on the right flank and surged towards goal before Dunne recovered with a fine tackle, but sent the ball straight to Owen, who instinctively swept the ball into Brad Friedel’s bottom-right hand corner.

Seven of Rooney’s last eight goals have come from headers and Sunday’s latest effort was the perfect example of bravery under pressure as he powered the ball high into the net. The cross was a perfect one from Antonio Valencia, who was named as Man of the Match.

Villa tried desperately to equalise in the closing stages and went close twice, but in the end the better team won to secure their fourth victory in the competition and gave United manager Alex Ferguson the 44th major trophy of his managerial career.

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

Manchester City thumped Championship (second division) Scunthorpe United 5-1 to take their place in the last eight and Chelsea saw off Bolton Wanderers 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.

That trio joined holders Manchester United, last year’s runners-up Tottenham Hotspur, Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth and Aston Villa in an all-Premier League draw for the quarter-finals which takes place on Saturday.

Manager Arsene Wenger, in charge of Arsenal for the 750th time and seeking his club’s first silverware since 2005, put his faith in younger players as he usually does in this competition and they rose to the occasion with a well-deserved win.

Fran Merida, their 19-year-old Spanish midfielder, put them ahead with a superbly struck curling left-foot shot after 19 minutes, before Liverpool equalised with an equally stunning shot from Argentine Emiliano Insua, his first for Liverpool, six minutes later.

Liverpool, also fielding a team of promising youngsters and seeking their first win at Arsenal for nine years, played excellent football but were eliminated after Niklas Bendtner scored with a powerful left-foot drive after 50 minutes.

“There was very little difference between the teams,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports. “We looked dangerous and they looked dangerous, but I think there is enough quality here to win trophies again this season.”

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, who made nine changes from the side that beat Manchester United on Sunday, said the defeat did not detract from the win over United.

“Of course we are disappointed to lose, but we do not lose the feel-good factor from beating United,” he said. “It was a different team and a different competition.”

One positive point for Benitez was the long-awaited debut of midfielder Alberto Aquilani after a protracted injury layoff.

The £20 million signing from AS Roma came on as a substitute in the second half and contributed a few telling passes.

Manchester City, who have not won a major honour since the 1976 League Cup, took the lead through Stephen Ireland after only three minutes against Scunthorpe, but the visitors shocked the ultra-rich Premier League side when Jonathan Forte equalised after 26 minutes.

City soon took control, however, with goals from Roque Santa Cruz, his first for City since his £17.5 million move from Blackburn Rovers, with Joleon Lescott, Carlos Tevez and Michael Johnson adding the others.

Chelsea enjoyed a routine win over Bolton at Stamford Bridge with Salomon Kalou, Florent Malouda, Deco and Didier Drogba all scoring and taking the team’s tally at the Bridge to 13 in three matches over the last seven days without conceding any.

The only blight for Chelsea was a head injury to goalkeeper Hilario, making a rare start, which forced him off in the first half. Manager Carlo Ancelotti said he had suffered concussion.

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

The Premier League giants were given a scare by the League One leaders at an electric Elland Road before eventually settling the third-round tie with a second-half David Ngog goal.

Leeds had a first-half goal disallowed and spurned a number of other opportunities before Ngog netted against the run of play with 65 minutes gone.

Yet Benitez, after making nine changes, brushed off suggestions that his team had ridden their luck.

The Spaniard said: “We worked hard and I feel we had our chances.

“We won with a lot of players not playing and I am really pleased with my team, with the squad.

“These kind of games are very important to keep the quality of character. I think it was a fantastic win for us.

“I think we showed today we can manage with different players and for the rest of the season it is important to know you have players who can come in.”

Ngog played up front on his own and Benitez was pleased with his goal as he seized on a mishit Javier Mascherano shot.

Benitez said: “It was a great goal. He showed quality, very good movement.

“He was also fighting big lads, so I think he had a very positive game for the team.”

Mascherano was at the centre of one of the game’s other talking points after catching Jermaine Beckford with his arm but neither manager made much of the incident.

Benitez said the player “was turning around” while Leeds boss Simon Grayson also played it down.

Grayson said: “Mascherano had an arm that went and nicked Jermaine but sometimes they are not done for a reaction.”

Grayson did feel his side were unlucky to have been denied a goal when Beckford’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Beckford was stopped short in his celebrations after turning in a goalbound header from Lubomir Michalik at close range after 11 minutes, with Luciano Becchio possibly the man given offside as he added an unnecessary extra touch on the line.

“I felt Jermaine was level with the centre-half for the goal but we are talking marginal errors at times,” said Grayson.

“I’m loathe to criticise but when you look he was level and the goal should have stood.”

Grayson however was delighted with his players’ performance which, in front of a lively 38,168 crowd, rekindled memories of Leeds’ Premier League days.

“I’m hugely proud of them,” Grayson said.

“I thought they were excellent from start to finish.

“We certainly matched them and on another night we might have got the victory our performance deserved.

“We had good opportunities but over the course of it maybe did get the breaks we deserved.”

Source: teamtalk.com

Manchester United suffered a shock defeat of 1 – 0 against second division Derby last night at Pride Park on Wednesday in the Leaugue Cup.

“Kris Commons fired the only goal with half an hour gone and Derby could have taken a two-goal advantage to Old Trafford for the second leg in two weeks’ time had Rob Hulse not wasted a glorious late chance.

United manager Alex Ferguson fielded an under-strength side but introduced Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo late on with the latter almost equalising with a trademark free kick that brushed the post.

Until then the Premier League champions had rarely tested their former keeper Roy Carroll in the Derby goal.

Derby, relegated from the top flight last season with a record low points total and languishing in 18th place in the Championship, had new manager Nigel Clough watching in the stands as he prepared for his first day in charge.

Clough, confirmed as the club’s new manager on Tuesday, must have been impressed by the organisation and spirit of Derby who fully deserved their first leg advantage.

United came under pressure early on, with Jonny Evans forced to clear one effort off the line. Andy Todd then lifted a good chance over the crossbar.

The hosts were rewarded for their enterprise when Commons surged into space midway inside the United half and advanced to smash a shot past Tomasz Kuszczak from 25 metres.

United, who host Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend, were subdued throughout, although they will start the second leg as favourites to reach the final.

Holders Tottenham Hotspur beat Championship side Burnley 4-1 at home in the first leg of their semifinal on Tuesday.“

Source: supersport.co.za

Scorer of the match-winning penalty against QPR in the fourth round, the terrific Tevez blasted four past Blackburn Rovers in the fifth. His quadruple included another spot-kick and an opening goal that may in the long run be seen by some as an Aaron Mokoena’s own goal.

Not that Carlos is taking that into consideration for now, as he enjoys the exposure he richly deserves after destroying Paul Ince’s side at Old Trafford.

“I’m very proud to score four goals,” Tevez told MUTV, with his team-mate Rodrigo Possebon acting as interpreter.

“It’s the first time I’ve done it in my career and I’m very proud to have achieved this in a United shirt. We’re very happy as a team with our performance, and I’m happy with my performance as well.
“For the players who do not play very often, it was a very good night because we showed we can play in any game that’s to come in the Premier League or Champions League.”

Chipping in with some words of his own, Possebon echoed Tevez’s pride in the display.

“It was a great performance – five goals, four from Carlito and one from Nani – and we are very proud. Blackburn is a very good team with some players who can make a difference. But we played better and we’re overjoyed to have won again.”

Post written for Soccer Pitch by Jaco van Dyk