Villa's Dunne out until April with fractured collarbone

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish was today coming to terms with the prospect of being without two of his key defenders for several weeks.

McLeish was dealt a blow on Saturday when Ciaran Clark damaged knee ligaments after nothing more than catching his studs in the turf during training.

As if that was not bad enough, Richard Dunne fractured a collarbone in the dying stages of yesterday's 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester City and is expcected to be out for around eight weeks.

At a time when it is all hands to the pump for Villa following a wretched run of just two wins in their last nine Barclays Premier League games, McLeish can ill afford to be losing players.

"We're gutted to be losing the big man," said McLeish. "He was trying to get us back in the game when he made a tremendous leap but, unfortunately, he landed badly on his shoulder and fractured the collarbone.

"He is a stalwart defender and has been that for the past dozen years or so in the Barclays Premier League. It's not good for us to be without such a top player and a defender of his massive experience.

"We wish Richard a speedy recovery and Ciaran, too, from his knee injury. We will look now for someone else to step up to the mark.

"It's part of the bad luck we've been having recently.

"As for Ciaran, he's tweaked a ligament and we will lose him for a few weeks. It's not an overnight return either."

Dunne had previously been exemplary before sustaining his injury, which left him with his right arm in a sling after the game.

However, there was nothing he nor his equally superb centre-back partner James Collins could do about Joleon Lescott's 63rd-minute winner that sent Manchester City back to the top of the table.

Without a home win since November 5 - a run of five defeats and two draws - these are worrying times for Villa who are just seven points above the relegation zone.

A clearly unhappy McLeish said: "Our home record is pretty abysmal.

"I'm disappointed with that because in my managerial career I pride myself with home performances, and the current one isn't good enough.

"No club under 40 points can afford to be complacent in this league. Everybody is going to have a right go, and it's going to be a big fight."

It could prove too much for some fans, up to 100 of whom voiced their concerns before kick off with a protest against McLeish.

There were a few banners and a few chants denouncing the Scot, but they were a small minority as the vast majority are preferring to give him a chance and get behind the team in its hour of need.

"I thought the fans inside the ground were brilliant," said McLeish.

"I said to the players in the team talk that the fans want them to sweat blood when they are wearing the jersey, and we have to show we are prepared to do that."