Author: AnneMc

The harsh reality of life in the Championship hit home yesterday, as Roberto Di Matteo’s first competitive game in charge of Aston Villa, the team’s first match in the second tier since 1988, ended in a 1-0 defeat at Hillsborough. It certainly wasn’t the start to a new life in the second tier that the 4,500 travelling fans wanted and the first half in particular provided a reminder that there is more work to be done in rebuilding the “house that had to be knocked down” before the transfer window closes. Chances were at a premium in the cagey opening…

Sheffield Wednesday and Hillsborough: Sheffield Wednesday Football Club was formed in 1867 as the football team of The Wednesday Cricket Club, changing to its current name in 1929. One of the world’s oldest football clubs, it was a founding member of the Football Alliance in 1889 – and its first winners. Three years later, the club joined the Football League. In 1992, Sheffield Wednesday became one of the founding members of the Premier League. The Owls, a nickname based on the Sheffield suburb of Owlerton where the stadium is located, have not played at that level since 2000 and came…

A dire 2015-16 campaign left Aston Villa fans with little to shout about, with confirmation of relegation from the Premier League a grim inevitability after woeful domestic form. However, with the Randy Lerner era now over and a new manager and owner in place, there should be optimism at the Midlands club and a feeling that the future can be decidedly brighter. Chinese entrepreneur Jiantong Xia has bought the club and revealed lofty ambitions for the future, but the most immediate challenge is getting out of what is a notoriously competitive Championship. Many teams have dropped from the top tier…

El Ghazi is a twenty-one-year-old winger who is regarded as the hottest of hot prospects in European football. One of Ajax’s best players, he has previously been linked with English clubs such as Newcastle United, Leicester City and Liverpool, as well as Italian giants AC Milan, although he has said that Real Madrid is his “dream club”. With Roberto Di Matteo now in post, the Italian will be aware of the need to add attacking threat to the Villa squad as he prepares for life in the Championship. Questionable as they may be, reports yesterday that Dutch winger El Ghazi…

After a poor season on the domestic front, Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark will hope he can end the season in style by cementing a place in the Ireland team for their Euro 2016 campaign in France. Clark has been named in ex-Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s squad and will be expecting to be a part of things when the Irish begin their campaign against Sweden in Paris. Whilst he struggled to maintain a regular starting berth at Villa Park this season, the centre-back played a key role in booking Ireland’s place in France. They had to come through a tough two-legged…

As the Villa faithful turned out to bid the Premier League adieu, youngsters Lyden and Toner received a warmer welcome than some of their more seasoned team-mates and the final game of the season of shame got under way. The party atmosphere in the away end continued even when the unchallenged Giroud headed Monreal’s cross home from twelve yards out after five minutes, with the claret and blue army joining the hosts in celebrating the goal. A little disgruntled as the ball had clearly gone out for a goal-kick before Giroud’s opening goal, the Villans kept plugging away and had…

As the game got under way, it was the beach balls rather than the football providing the entertainment. After five minutes, Clark attempted a rather optimistic thirty-yarder that curled wide as the visitors, battling to avoid the drop, enjoyed plenty of possession on the right. Sissoko curled the ball into the penalty area after eighteen minutes but Sisse was unable to reach the ball in time and Bunn returned to removing inflatables from the pitch. The Magpies continued to control possession but appeared as toothless in attack as their hosts. Cisse had an opportunity to shoot across goal after neat…

Taking to the field with Bunn between the sticks and a new look defence, the visitors were hoping to secure their fourth win of a sorry season while the hosts were hoping to bounce back following last weekend’s FA Cup exit. The action was limited to half chances in the opening stages, with neither Abdi nor Deeney really testing Bunn. Ighalo had two opportunities to open the scoring but was denied by a last-ditch challenge by Clark and a smart save from Bunn at the near post. Midfielder Watson, aiming for the spectacular, rattled the crossbar with a volley from…

The fans’ consultation group met at Villa Park before the Southampton game on Saturday 23rd April. Fans’ representatives in attendance were: Joe Costello – Heroes and Villans Anne Erskine – Avillafan.com Steve Gough – Aston Villa Independent Supporters’ Club Gary Kilburn and Vaughan Ellis – Lions’ Clubs David Michael – My Old Man Said Ian Stokes – Vital Villa Peter Warrilow and Kris Carr – Aston Villa Supporters’ Trust Representing Aston Villa Football Club were: Steve Hollis – Chairman Brian Little – Advisor to the board of directors Nicola Keye – Head of Consumer Sales Tommy Jordan – Head of…

The Villans were not involved in any dragon slaying to honour Saint George, although there were plenty of tragic elements to their latest loss to mark the four hundredth anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The relegated hosts were jeered from the off and the atmosphere did not improve when Long hit the post in the game’s second minute following inept defending from Villa’s experienced duo of Richards and Lescott. As the Saints continued to press, Bacuna headed Westwood’s cross wide and all Ayew could do was to hit the side netting. Inevitably, Long opened the scoring after fifteen minutes, heading home…