Villa are also expecting to lose Micah Richards, their captain, for at least one match after he was charged by the Football Association with improper conduct. Richards clashed with the Swansea City defender Federico Fernandez during the 2-1 defeat on Saturday and then confronted him in the tunnel after the final whistle. The incident was included in referee Neil Swarbrick’s match report and Richards is facing a ban. He has until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge.