HomeAuthorsBill Howell

Bill Howell

Bill Howell

Olof Mellberg will be a big loss to Aston Villa, says Gabriel Agbonlahor

GABBY Agbonlahor believes Aston Villa will find it difficult to replace Olof Mellberg. Read

Olof Mellberg

Olof Mellberg prepares for farewell to Aston Villa

MARTIN O'Neill is expecting Olof Mellberg to be given an emotional send-off by a sell-out Villa Park crowd this weekend. Read

Ashley Young

Ashley Young PFA honour well deserved, says Martin O'Neill

MARTIN O'Neill has heaped praise on Ashley Young for getting into the PFA team of the year. Read

Martin O'Neill: Ricoh recce was just part of my job

MARTIN O'Neill has played down the significance of a scouting trip to the Ricoh Arena last Saturday. Read

Gabriel Agbonlahor bangs drum for Aston Villa win

GABBY Agbonlahor says Aston Villa are looking to end their home campaign "with a bang" against Steve Bruce's Wigan. Read

Let's take it to the final game, says Gareth Barry

GARETH Barry says Aston Villa must beat Wigan to set up a final-day cliff-hanger at West Ham in the race for fifth. Read

Martin O'Neill happy with Aston Villa points return

MARTIN O'Neill has contented himself in the knowledge that ten points from four games has quietened the critics who had questioned his decision not to spend in January. Read

Craig Gardner

Injury setback for Craig Gardener

CRAIG Gardner has suffered a slight setback in his bid to return to fitness after a five-game absence for Aston Villa with a thigh injury. Read

Gabriel Agbonlahor has more goals in his sights for Aston Villa

GABRIEL Agbonlahor aims to score in his fifth successive game to edge Villa closer to Europe against Wigan. Read

Chris Brunt targets champions medal with West Bromwich Albion

CHRIS Brunt immediately set his sights on winning a Championship winners medal after admitting that his equalising goal against Southampton had lobbed a sizeable chink off his £3million transfer fee. Read

Jonathan Greening: I want to finish my career at West Bromwich Albion

JONATHAN Greening has admitted he is looking to see out his footballing career under Tony Mowbray at Albion- even though he already has three years left on his current deal. Read

West Bromwich Albion must keep Zoltan Gera and Kevin Phillips, says Jonathan Greening

JONATHAN Greening says Albion must do their utmost to keep Kevin Phillips and Zoltan Gera. Read

Martin O'Neill delight over Aston Villa goal tally

MARTIN O'Neill has paid homage to Aston Villa's goal-scoring prowess and their ability to bounce back in games from a losing position. Read

Curtis Davies

Curtis Davies told to bide his time for Aston Villa return

MARTIN O'Neill has stressed Villa have to continue with caution with regards to Curtis Davies and has all but ruled him out of the first two months of next season. Read

Everton 2 Aston Villa 2

NOT since the Duke of Wellington was trampling over Napoleon on the battlefields of Waterloo has Europe been fought over so vociferously by two battle-hardened generals, writes BILL HOWELL. Read

Martin O'Neill

Fifth place fight will go to the wire, says Martin O'Neill

MARTIN O’Neill believes the battle for fifth place will go to the wire - but he admits that Everton are now in the driving seat. Read

John Carew: Aston Villa can beat Everton to fifth

JOHN Carew firmly believes Villa can complete a remarkable comeback and Read

Gareth Barry

Martin O'Neill praises Gareth Barry for Aston Villa performance at Everton

GARETH Barry earned rave reviews from Martin O’Neill after another gold-plated performance in the 2-2 draw at Goodison. Read

Aston Villa 'battlers' delight Martin O'Neill

MARTIN O’Neill gave credit to his Villa battlers for refusing to throw in the towel at Goodison Park. Read

Gabriel Agbonlahor

Gabriel Agbonlahor transformed from Aston Villa player who debuted against Everton

GABBY Agbonlahor burst onto the scene at Goodison Park two years and one month ago: a wiry 19-year-old with bags of pace but little else. 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.

Get involved

We want your local stories, videos & pics.