Updated 12:39am 26 May 2013

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Bill Howell

Bill Howell

Martin Laursen: I wish I'd come to Aston Villa earlier

Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen was due to announce his retirement from football at the age of 31 today after conceding defeat in his battle to recover from a serious knee injury.Read

Aston Villa's Martin Laursen to retire from football

Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen was due to announce his retirement from football at the age of 31 today after conceding defeat in his battle to recover from a serious knee injury.Read

Stiliyan Petrov sets personal and team goal for Villa

Stiliyan Petrov insists there is a two-fold target facing both him and Aston Villa next season.Read

Europe League test for Aston Villa youngsters

Aston Villa fans will no doubt see the irony in the light of Martin O’Neill sending his reserves to Moscow but the club have now confirmed they will enter the new Europa League at the preliminary play-off stage in August.Read

Brad Friedel: Fifth spot will still be an improvement for Villa

American goalkeeper Brad Friedel says Aston Villa never had a ‘God -given’ right to fourth place in the Premier League and believes that fifth would still represent Mission Accomplished this season.Read

Mark Delaney tips Aston Villa to break top four

Former Villa full-back Mark Delaney has tipped the club to eventually break the monopoly of the big four as long as Martin O’Neill continues his transformation of the club.Read

O'Neill: Aston Villa can't afford to come unstuck against Everton

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill says the time for talking has come to an end and his players must not allow their season to drift any further.Read

Uphill struggle admits Mowbray after costly Stoke defeat

WEST BROWMICH ALBION 0Read

England coach is confident over Aston Villa striker's mental toughness

England under-21 coach Stuart Pearce believes Gabriel Agbonlahor will be mentally toughened after losing his Aston Villa place and having to sit on the bench at Liverpool.Read

Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel wins Anfield red card appeal

Brad Friedel will be able to continue his remarkable unbroken record in the Premier League after Villa won their appeal to the FA over his sending-off at Liverpool.Read

Next two games will sort out men from boys says Villa's Reo-Coker

Nigel Reo-Coker insists a positive mental approach can see Aston Villa bounce back from a miserable run of form which has seen them exit two cup competitions and take one point from 12.Read

Laursen setback brings new blow to Villa after Dubai break

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill will learn the fate of his influential club skipper Martin Laursen today with fresh injury concerns surrounding the fitness of the former Denmark international.Read

Villa boss in high spirits with ten games still to go

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has promised plenty more “twists and turns – highs and lows” ahead as the Premier League reaches its climax.Read

O'Neill's second-string decision rebounds on Villa

BILL HOWELLRead

Aston Villa will gain from European experience, says Martin O'Neill

Martin O’Neill believes Aston Villa’s experiences in Europe this season will stand his side in good shape for any future European charges.Read

Villa have nothing to fear in Moscow, says John Carew

John Carew believes Aston Villa have nothing to fear as they travel to Russia for Thursday’s UEFA Cup second leg at CSKA Moscow. Read

Heskey ruled out of Villa's UEFA Cup clash

Emile Heskey has been ruled out of Wednesday's UEFA Cup clash with CSKA Moscow - but Curtis Davies will be fit despite a troublesome shoulder injury.  Read

Villa's away streak of wins 'what top teams do' - O'Neill

Martin O’Neill has hailed his side for their fearless approach to playing away from Villa Park.Read

Villa's Martin Laursen retires from international football

Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen has retired from Denmark’s national football team because of injury problems and because he wants to focus on playing for his club.Read

Alan Hansen backing Aston Villa for a top four finish

Respected BBC pundit Alan Hansen believes Aston Villa can be successful in their quest to finish in the top four.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. He now covers Wolves.