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Bill Howell

Bill Howell

Second yellow was harsh - Olof Mellberg

OLOF Mellberg believes he was unfortunate to receive a second yellow card from referee Chris Foy at Portsmouth. Read

Martin O'Neill insists race is still on for Aston Villa

MARTIN O'Neill has hinted at a loss of belief in his Aston Villa squad but is confident they can recover from a nightmare week to salvage their season. Read

Martin Laursen

Let's show we are men - Martin Laursen

MARTIN Laursen says Villa will not give up on their European quest and has called for his team-mates to prove they are "men and not boys". Read

Martin O'Neill: Aston Villa need fighters

MARTIN O'Neill has set his sights on building a squad of players willing to fight for their places. Read

Kanu

Curtis Davies: Kanu is so dangerous

CURTIS Davies is wary of the threat posed by former Albion team-mate Kanu as Aston Villa look to get back to winning ways at Fratton Park. Read

Gareth Barry looking for Arsenal repeat at Portsmouth

GARETH Barry believes Villa's trip to Portsmouth gives them the perfect opportunity to make amends for their poor midweek show against Middlesbrough. Read

Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 1 - Birmingham Mail Report

PANCAKES, a tyre punctured by a nail, a snooker table, Holland. Now add a DVD of Villa against Middlesbrough March '08... Read

Olof Mellberg confident of instant response

DEFENDER Olof Mellberg says Villa can bounce back to form against Portsmouth but admits qualifying for Europe will now be tough. Read

Olof Mellberg

Olof Mellberg: I'll give it my all

OLOF Mellberg has insisted that he is desperate to play the season out with Villa, dismissing any notions his mind may already be on his summer switch to Juventus. Read

Martin O'Neill

Martin O'Neill calls for more brain power

VILLA must learn to use their brains and break down teams at home, according to Martin O'Neill, who saw his UEFA Cup dream take a battering against Middlesbrough. Read

Martin O'Neill asks Aston Villa team: How much do you want it?

MARTIN O'Neill publicly questioned Aston Villa's desire for the first time during his 19 months at the club and labelled their performance against Middlesbrough as "not good enough". Read

Middlesbrough are a big threat, insists Martin O'Neill

MARTIN O'Neill is expecting a tough examination of Aston Villa's European pretentions against Middlesbrough tonight. Read

Martin O'Neill is still haunted by Fulham defeat

ASTON Villa have been warned by Martin O'Neill that a repeat of their performance in the defeat to Fulham and they will struggle to finish in the top half of the Premier League. Read

Martin O'Neill keen to match John Gregory's Aston Villa achievements

MARTIN O'Neill says his Aston Villa side still have a way to go before they can be considered in the same bracket as John Gregory's UEFA Cup qualifiers. Read

Gareth Barry refuses to give up on the race for Europe

GARETH Barry has far from given up on a top-five finish and says Aston Villa can "last the pace". Read

Zat Knight warns Aston Villa to beware a Middlesbrough backlash

ZAT Knight has warned against a Middlesbrough backlash at Aston Villa Park tomorrow night. Read

Gabriel Agbonlahor

Gabriel Agbonlahor goal drought doesn't worry Martin O'Neill

MARTIN O'Neill has insisted he isn't too concerned by Gabriel Agbonlahor's Aston Villa goal drought. Read

Zat Knight

Martin O'Neill: Dropping Zat Knight did him good

ZAT Knight has improved since his time out of the first team, according to Martin O'Neill. Read

Martin O'Neill

Martin O'Neill insists Aston Villa are in it to win it

MARTIN O'Neill has pinpointed a significant difference in approach by his Aston Villa team to many others in the Premier League because they go into games looking to win - not simply to avoid defeat. Read

Stiliyan Petrov

Stiliyan Petrov is still in Aston Villa's plans

STILIYAN Petrov has not been frozen out by Martin O'Neill, who is hoping the former Celtic player will be "raring to go" after being taken out of the firing line. Read

Author Profile

Bill Howell started covering Midlands football for the Sunday Mercury in March 1998. He moved to the Birmingham Mail, writing solely on Aston Villa, following the 2000 FA Cup Final. Previously he was a sports reporter in Aberdeen, covering the Old Firm, and before that he was a news reporter in East London.

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