Ageing, efficient and with a preference for clinical, continuity football, the Sheffield United midfielder is the anthithesis of what it supposedly takes to flourish in this unforgiving division.

However, the veneer of quality Speed spread across his teammates' resliance enabled them to avoid being dragged into what their manager had predicted could become a quagmire of a match and ensured Kevin Blackwell's men blossomed at Bloomfield Road.

If the scoreline provided an accurate reflection of the visitors' superiority then the fact that Speed had a hand in two of their three goals was testimony to the commanding nature of his performance against opponents who battled gamely but only sporadically threatened to seize the initiative.

Steven Kabba briefly put the outcome back in the balance after Stephen Quinn's strike and Speed's penalty had seen Kabba's former club wrestle control, but Greg Halford's finish to restore United's two-goal advantage was an emphatic as the response it provoked with substitutes Danny Webber and Matthew Spring both going close during the dying moments.

"We're going to have to come to places like this and perform if we're going to have a chance of doing anything," Speed said.

"We need to be winning these type of games and we spoke about that beforehand. To be fair, our attitude was great.

"We approached the game in exactly the right manner.

"I feel good, we'll see what this season brings, but I've got no plans after this so we'll have to see what happens.
I might not feel like this in April.

"The aim is to get in the Premier League, that's our goal, and if we do then I'll have to evaluate the situation and see if I think I can still play there."

Speed singled out Ugo Ehiogu, deputising for a concussed Chris Morgan, as United's outstanding talent here.

Although the centre-half was indeed impressive, it was his fellow veteran who pulled their strings.

Speed's immaculate pass selection, which became the theme of the afternoon, was crucial in engineering the opportunity which saw Quinn break the deadlock midway through the first half.

Billy Sharp made inroads down the flank and Darius Henderson, who had earlier forced Paul Rachubka to produce a smart save, helped the ball on.

United appealed for a penalty when it appeared to hit a Blackpool hand, but Speed kept his wits about him and sent the Republic of Ireland under-21 international scampering into space, with Quinn sweeping a low drive past the goalkeeper's outstretched palm.

"It's good that everybody is chipping in," Speed continued.

"It means we're dangerous right across the pitch, and that's always difficult to try and combat.

"Everyone here it willing to put in the hard work and, at the moment, we're reaping the rewards."

Blackpool's communication, particularly at the back, had been almost non-existent during the opening 45 minutes and Henderson, growing in stature with every game, took advantage of their indecision almost immediately after the re-start.

Demonstrating he has brains as well as brawn, United's £2 million summer signing showed good strength to keep his marker at bay before releasing Halford.

Rachubka parried his long-range effort but was left horribly exposed soon after when Speed, who cut his professional teeth with Blackwell's counterpart, Simon Grayson at Leeds, converted from the spot after Shaun Barker, perhaps harshly, was adjudged to have been over-zealous in the box.

"I've seen the DVD and it was never a penalty," the Blackpool manager moaned. "Never in a million years.

"Nobody appealed and I think they (United) were as surprised as anyone when it was given against Shaun."

If United had been fortuitious, then Lady Luck did her best to restore parity.

Kabba, together with the tricky Adam Hammill, had been instrumental in dragging Blackpool back into contention but appeared to mis-time the shot which spiralled through a crowd of bodies to reduce the deficit 16 minutes from time.

"It had to be Kabbs," Blackwell said. "We mentioned what he might do in the dressing room.

I don't think that was his strongest shot."

Almost immediately, though, United doubled their advantage when Halford found the roof of the net after Blackpool had again failed to deal with a Michael Tonge corner.

"We've got a great set of lads who are willing to work and given 100 per cent every week," Speed said.

"I thought Ugo was absolutely terrific out there.

"He's a great defender and a great lad to have in the dressing room because he's got loads of experience.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't keep a clean sheet but we'll go into our game with Cardiff next week on a high.

"Our target is to go up and I think we've now got the right squad now to do it.

"I'm really enjoying myself."

If he continues to do so then United seem destined for a productive season.



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