Mellberg defends Hendrie

Aston Villa skipper Olof Mellberg believes the Football Association should find Lee Hendrie not guilty of improper conduct.

Hendrie already has to serve a three-game ban after his appeal against his sending off for violent conduct at Manchester City was rejected by the FA.

Soho Square officials have also charged the one time England midfielder with improper conduct for failing to leave the Eastlands pitch promptly after his red card from referee Mike Riley.

But Mellberg insists Hendrie did nothing wrong regarding the second charge.

The Sweden international said: “Lee just kept repeating ‘there wasn’t any contact with Danny Mills’.

“He was just desperate to tell the referee what had happened because he felt he may have been unsighted.

“It is hard to say how long he was standing there but it definitely wasn’t any longer than it takes for anyone to leave the pitch when they are sent off.”

Villa will use video evidence at next Tuesday’s FA hearing to show Hendrie only took 27 seconds to leave the field of play after his dismissal for feigning a head butt in the direction of Mills.