Alex McLeish tells ‘lucky’ Barry Bannan to mend ways after avoiding prison term

The Scotland international, 21, was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £4,500 at Nottingham Crown Court and Villa manager McLeish is hoping it will deter Bannan from drinking again. He confirmed Bannan will be included in the Villa squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game at Swansea but hopes he will change his lifestyle. McLeish said: “Barry has been punished, and deservedly punished. He has made a huge mistake.

“It is a warning to other players, especially the young ones, that we won’t tolerate a drinking culture at this football club – not that there is one. If it makes Barry think again about taking a drink in the future, I’m sure he will be a better athlete for it.”

Asked if Bannan was lucky to have avoided prison, McLeish added: “Yes, he is lucky, I agree with that. I’ve told him that and he knows that as well.

“Hopefully this is a harsh lesson for him. He has had a real shock, he has shown contrition, he is very ashamed of what happened. I’m certain we will see a different Barry Bannan in the coming months or years.”

McLeish is demanding a positive response from his side after an inept performance in the 2-0 setback at Tottenham on Monday. He said: “That should be a real slap in the face to the players and they’ve got to respond accordingly.” Meanwhile, Andre Villas-Boas insisted he retained the complete backing of Roman Abramovich and Chelsea’s players, despite his nightmare start to life at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas shrugged off the mounting pressure on him following the Blues’ worst beginning to a campaign since Abramovich bought the club eight years ago. Speculation is rife Villas-Boas could be sacked if he fails to arrest a slump that has seen Chelsea slide out of the Premier League top four and in danger of failing to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

There have also been reports of player unrest at the tactical changes made by the 34-year-old, who was tasked by Abramovich with getting the club to play more like Barcelona. Villas-Boas confirmed he had spoken to the Russian billionaire since Wednesday night’s last gasp Champions League defeat at Bayer Leverkusen. Asked if Abramovich had promised to give him time to turn things around, he said simply: “Yes,” before adding: “Everybody wants to get out of a situation like this.”

Villas-Boas also rubbished suggestions his lack of experience necessitated the appointment of an older coach to work alongside him, such as Guus Hiddink.

“I don’t agree with that,” he said, insisting he and his current staff would solve Chelsea’s problems.