O'Leary wants showdown talks with Hendrie

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary plans to have talks with midfielder Lee Hendrie after a crowd incident in the second half of today’s friendly defeat at Walsall.

Hendrie appeared to react to comments from a fan and kicked the ball into the crowd. Later there were chants from some Villa fans of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt”.

O’Leary said: “I had to contend with ‘stupid paddy, why don’t you go and dig a road?’ comments during my career, and you have to get on with it.

“Lee has to cope with it. I know he was very upset but I cannot ask for more effort than he has been giving on the pitch.

“We shall have a talk about it on Monday. I don’t condone it but he loves the club and wants to do well for us.”

O’Leary also praised Walsall’s former Villa star Paul Merson who scored in the Saddlers’ 2-1 win.

He said: “I think he could still do a job in the Premiership if used in the right way. He is a special player and he has a football brain. He can only help Walsall.”

Darius Vassell equalised for Villa following Merson’s opener but second-half substitute Gary Birch hit the winner for the Division One team.