ASTON VILLA and Republic of Ireland captain Andy Townsend looks set to escape FA disciplinary action after television appeared to show him aiming a blow at Coventry City defender Paul Williams in Saturday's ill tempered clash at Highfield Road.

Townsend reacted angrily when Williams caught him late during Villa's 2-1 win. A mass scrum broke out between players from both sides and Townsend, booked earlier, looked as if he had struck out at Whelan.

However, FA spokesman Steve Double said that slow motion suggested there was more pushing than punching and added: "The referee saw the incident and took the action he deemed appropriate."

Townsend, restrained by Villa goalkeeper Michael Oakes and club physiotherapist Jim Walker, was simply lectured by referee Paul Durkin. Unless he makes an issue of it in his report, the FA are unlikely to take the matter further. Townsend left Highfield Road without making any comment.

The FA have also confirmed that Coventry and Republic of Ireland international Liam Daish was not booked twice in the match despite suggestions on radio and television yesterday.

Also likely to escape FA disciplinary action is Peter Schmeichel, who has denied making racist remarks to Arsenal striker Ian Wright. However, the Professional Footballer's Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor will use today's a.g.m. of the association to ram home the message that on field misbehaviour will not be tolerated.

"We are working hard to eradicate racism among supporters and it is important that players set a good example," says Taylor, who has been acting as peacemaker behind the scenes over the weekend.

He has spoken to Wright and Schmeichel about the clash, which is now being officially investigated by the FA. Television pictures of the two squaring up each other at Old Trafford nine days ago show the Dane appearing to mouth a racist obscenity at Wright.

"I've seen a video of the incident and to put it politely it is not nice, says Wright.

However, Taylor says: "Peter has denied making such comments." If Schmeichel stands by that and no other witness comes forward to substantiate the allegation, it would be one player's word against the other and no action would then be likely.

Both the FA and the PFA are anxious, however, to get the message across that players and officials have a great responsibility in the war against racism.

"We were very proactive in starting the anti racism campaign in football with the Commission for Racial Equality and have been pleased with the way other bodies have taken it on board," says Taylor.

"We want to make sure it's maintained. As well as talking to these two players I had the opportunity of speaking with UEFA president Lennart Johannsson last week about comments he was alleged to have made. Wherever we can we want to make sure our message gets across."

The FA originally took the stance that they would not act on the Schmeichel row unless Wright or someone else at Arsenal complained. They acted independently after Wright said: "I'm not in the habit of getting my fellow professionals into trouble. I've said things myself in the heat of the moment that have got me into trouble and I'm sure that's the case with Peter Schmeichel. But what he's done is there for everyone to see. Other people must deal with it."

Wright will be asked for his version of the incident by the FA, as will Schmeichel. Double said: "Lip reading is not an exact science and it's very difficult to prove exactly what was said just by viewing television pictures. But these are serious allegations. Our anti racism campaign is well known and we are taking this matter seriously."

Wright, not exactly a stranger to the Lancaster Gate hierarchy after a catalogue of disciplinary problems, says he will be asking the FA - to overturn the caution he received from referee Graham Poll in the aftermath of the clash.

Meanwhile, Frank Clark knows he will take a step closer to the sack if Nottingham Forest lose the Premiership match with Blackburn (Sky Sports, 8.0) at the City Ground tonight. Rovers counterpart Tony Parkes may only be a caretaker manager, but he is under just as much pressure, and says: "It's a game we can't afford to lose."

Both sides are five points off the safety mark and after 12 games without a win, life is getting desperate for Clark, who is working against a background of boardroom uncertainty. "We have gone 12 games without a win, we're bottom of the table and those statistics get managers the sack," Clark says. "It's not something I lie awake worrying about but I am certainly not naive enough to believe that it can't happen to me."

Forest, who conceded 12 goals in two meetings with Rovers last season, look set to be without midfielders Chris Bart Williams and Scot Gemmill, both suffering thigh problems, but central defender Steve Chettle is available after serving a suspension.