Hendrie in a huff as Merson undermines Villa

Pre-season they may be, but some of the summer warm-up matches clubs play are anything but friendly. Aston Villa's new manager, David O'Leary, was left yesterday with the task of explaining the necessity of turning the other cheek after his Premiership side were beaten 2-1 away to their near neighbours Walsall, of the First Divison.

O'Leary will be having a word with his midfielder Lee Hendrie, who became involved in an exchange with 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", which at this stage of the season is possibily true.

O'Leary, of course, has been there, heard it and probably had the T-shirt sent to him through the post. "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," O'Leary said. "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. I don't condone it but he loves the club and wants to do well for us."

Villa could do better than they did yesterday, when they were undone by a team inspired by the former Villa midfielder, Paul Merson, who scored. O'Leary 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 after Merson's opener but the second-half substitute, Gary Birch, hit the winner for Walsall.

There was a flash of trouble at Rugby Park, too, where Sunderland lost 4-2 to Kilmarnock, who bounced back from a midweek thrashing by Portsmouth.

Kevin Kyle, the striker whose potential has generated high hopes at Sunderland, became involved in a Mark Viduka moment during the second half, reacting angrily to a challenge by Alan Mahood and becoming embroiled in a fracas. Viduka was not dismissed, and therefore suspended, after his tussle with Andrew Johnson, then of York City, but on this occasion, the referee booked both players, who were then substituted.

Sunderland left almost a whole team behind on Wearside, but that is of little consolation. The hope is that some of the absentees, such as Tore Andre Flo and Kevin Phillips, can be sold. Colin Nish put Killie ahead, but the Black Cats equalised through Michael Proctor. Kris Boyd exploited ponderous Sunderland defending after the break to put the home side back in front but Proctor equalised again after Colin Meldrum had blocked his penalty. After the fracas, Boyd put Killie back in front 10 minutes from time and the substitute, Danny Invincibile, then made it 4-2.