NEWCASTLE'S Nikos Dabizas has exposed Laurent Blanc as the weakest link in Manchester United's defence of their Premiership title.

Sir Alex Ferguson won't agree with Greece centre-back Dabizas, but the Old Trafford manager's contentious decision to sell Jaap Stam and replace the Dutch strongman with the ageing Blanc, looks as though it could seriously threaten the Red Devils' supremacy.

French international Blanc, 36 in November, was found wanting for pace and awareness amid the frantic exchanges of Saturday's scintillating contest at St. James' Park.

Ferguson snapped up Blanc on a free transfer from Inter Milan after agreeing the shock £16.5m sale of Stam to Lazio.

But Dabizas, who boasts three-and-a-half years' experience in the Premiership, has warned Blanc he must adjust quickly to the hurly-burly of the English top-flight if he is to be a success.

Dabizas, scorer of the Magpies' third goal in their thrilling 4-3 victory, said: "The football in England is always a battle.

"Laurent Blanc is a great defender and very experienced, but he was struggling with the pace of the game because you have to be strong and you have to challenge people all the time.

"You can read the game well, but that does not help you in England. You have to challenge. Sometimes somebody will put his elbow in your face and somebody will put his studs in your thigh, and you have to be prepared for that.

"If you don't have this attitude you will lose the game. It's like going into an arena with gladiators.

"In Italy and Spain you have tactics and maybe more technical quality, but you don't have the atmosphere and the pace that you have here.

"It's unique and it keeps you on your toes all the time. Sometimes you have to play clever, but you cannot do that all the time.''

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson admitted he briefed speedy front-runner Craig Bellamy to stretch Blanc at every opportunity.

"He was told to spin all the time and get in behind Blanc,'' said Robson. "Blanc's a great player when everything is in front of him.''

Dabizas, meanwhile, believes visiting skipper Roy Keane was "out of his mind'' when he was sent off after his confrontation with counterpart Alan Shearer in injury time.

"I think it's bad behaviour - sometimes you lose your mind,'' said Dabizas, who has known disciplinary problems of his own.

"Some players do the same things all the time, even if they are great players.

"Sometimes they have a bad attitude and cannot control it during the game. You are out of your mind; I've done it myself in the past but now I try to learn to control myself.''

But Dabizas, who also scored in Newcastle's 4-1 derby victory at Middlesbrough a week earlier, acknowledged that Saturday's game is one that will live in the memory for the right reasons.

He said: "It was one of the top games I've played in for Newcastle and I think it must have been a classic for the fans.

"When you are facing a team like Manchester United with so many attacking players, you have to be switched on all the time. The only bad spell of the game for us was when we conceded two quick goals and they drew level.

"When I scored, I thought we would win the game at that stage, but at 3-3 I thought it was heading for a draw - I didn't expect us to bounce back.''

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