Gary Speed's death looms large today

It was difficult watching SWANSEA and ASTON VILLA play their PREMIER LEAGUE match today, and not because it ended goalless. Under the circumstances, a dearth of scoring was probably expected.
The match kicked off about an hour-and-a-half following the confirmation of the overnight death of GARY SPEED, the WALES national manager and a former top-flight player.
Speed, who died age 42 in what was reportedly a suicide, won 85 caps for Wales and played his club football for Leeds, Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United.
The Welsh crowd in Swansea sang Speed's name and burst into a minute's applause when called upon to observe a minute's silence before kickoff.
Watching the match, it seemed the players' minds were elsewhere. My mind was, too, as I kept checking TWITTER for the tributes that continue to pour forth for a footballer genuinely held in the highest regard.