Speed will not back out

Last updated : 23 February 2002 By Luke Thornhill
Speed is one of four players who will miss the visit of Ipswich Town next month should the collect a booking.

Alan Shearer, Clarence Acuna and Andy O'Brien also face the suspension tightrope.

"I won't be doing anything stupid tomorrow like getting booked for dissent or anything like that," Speed told the Evening Chronicle.

"However, if the ball is there to be won and it needs a tackle to win it I'll just go for it and the same goes for the other three.

"You cannot go into a game worried about getting booked or you will not perform as well as you should."

"I hate missing games but I have been suspended on one occasion for every season for the last four or five years.

"But if I don't get a yellow card tomorrow then I should be OK this season."