Aston Villa were held to a goalless draw by Swansea in a match played out in a surreal atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium after the death of Wales boss Gary Speed.

News of Speed’s death filtered through to the stadium about 30 minutes before kick-off and Villa goalkeeper Shay Given was reduced to tears moments before kick-off on an emotional afternoon in South Wales.

Swansea had the better of the chances in the second-half as Leroy Lita went close but neither side really did enough to justify winning the game.

Villa boss Alex McLeish recalled Charles N’Zogbia to the starting line-up, as Carlos Cuellar dropped to the bench while Stiliyan Petrov was ruled out with a hamstring injury so Fabian Delph was recalled.

Jermaine Jenas was available again after being ineligible to face parent club Tottenham last Monday but was named among the substitutes.

Alan Hutton and Fabian Delph both picked up needless yellow cards early within the first 15 minutes as Villa struggled to get the ball off a Swansea who passed it around with intelligence.

Villa went close in the 20th minute when Delph’s corner was audaciously flicked on by N’Zogbia but Richard Dunne directed his header over the bar at the backpost.

Two minutes later Scott Sinclair broke clear down the left and cut back inside on to this right foot but drilled a low shot wide of the post.

Villa began the second half positively and Delph played a sweeping cross-field pass to the right flank in the 50th minute where Hutton had raced forward but the Scotland international’s attempted lob went over the bar.

Shortly afterwards the visitors went close again when Richard Dunne fired a high ball into penalty area which Darren Bent nodded into the path of N’Zogbia but the French winger could not adjust his body to get a shot on target and the ball ran out.

Gabby Agbonlahor forced Michel Vorm to make his first save of the match in the 56th minute when he showed good strength to come inside from the left and force the Swansea keeper to fumble the ball over the bar.

The industrious Joe Allen impressed for Swansea and a shooting opportunity opened up for him in the 60th minute which he was unable to keep under control.

Swansea created their best chance of the match in the 72nd minute after some neat build-up play allowed Mark Gower to find Leroy Lita who turned James Collins but dragged his shot from just inside the box wide of the post with Given beaten.

Lita had another chance in the 82nd minute when Sinclair opened up the Villa defence with a clever ball into the former Reading striker but Given came off his line and parried the low shot to safety.

Chris Herd went close with a header from substitute Barry Bannan’s corner late on but in light of Speed’s death neither side was in the mood for celebration so a goalless draw seemed an appropriate outcome for all concerned.