STEVE Sidwell sent a clear message to Martin O’Neill that he is ready for a Premier League bow after making a goalscoring return for the reserves in their 1-0 win at former club Chelsea.Read
DISTANCE between the two clubs in terms of league placings: four. Distance between the two clubs: 126 miles. Relative distance between the two clubs in terms of Premier League quality: a million miles.Read
IN MUCH the same way that you should never test the depth of the water with both feet, then you should also never get carried away with a decent start to the season.Read
JOHN Carew tormented the West Brom defence as Martin O'Neill's side registered a third away win in six days to maintain a push for a Champions League spot.Read
LITEX Lovech’s love affair with national pin-up Stiliyan Petrov is finally over after the home-grown star helped Villa come from behind to beat their nine-man outfit in their first-round first-leg UEFA Cup clash in Bulgaria last night.Read
CARLOS Cuellar announced his presence at Villa Park with a towering performance as Kevin MacDonald’s men edged it through a superior first-half performance in their Premiership Reserve League South clash with Spurs.Read
GARETH Barry played as if he had been unveiled from behind a huge theatrical curtain alongside a speedboat, just as Yorkshire comic Jim Bowen’s words were being uttered by Rafa Benitez at his American owners.Read
ASTON Villa are through to the first round proper of the UEFA Cup for the first time in seven years despite being held by the Icelandic part-timers in a low-key second leg at Villa Park.Read
VILLA reserves stepped up preparations for next week’s Premier Reserve League (south) opener with a comfortable 7-1 victory against Hereford United.Read
THREE goals in less than 10 minutes from Gabriel Agbonlahor saw Aston Villa tell the Premier League that they mean business this season, writes BILL HOWELL.Read