Villa ace Ireland in f-word spray at manager McLeish

Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland was embroiled in a touchline bust-up with manager Alex McLeish during defeat to Newcastle United.

The Sun says Ireland told his Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish to "f*** off" in a touchline bust-up yesterday.

The Irish midfielder was furious at being blamed for Newcastle's opener as Villa crashed 2-1.

Ireland was hauled off at half-time after the rant when he clearly twice swore at McLeish.

McLeish later insisted he replaced Ireland as he was injured.

He said: "I know he spoke back but, at the same time, players don't like to hear the manager screaming at them from the touchline. But I kick every ball. I'm passionate and I care. I wouldn't be so petty to take a player off for something like that if he is doing a fantastic job.

"When Guthrie side-stepped him to put the cross in, I thought Stevie should have been making that tackle or at least put a block on the cross. But it was clear at half-time that he didn't have the capacity to get close to people. He had an ankle problem."