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Matt Maher

Chief sports writer for the Express & Star.

January 4, 2020

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith says FA Cup 'wasn’t the top of our priority' after Aston Villa's loss to Fulham

Dean Smith says FA Cup 'wasn’t the top of our priority' after Aston Villa's loss to Fulham

Supporting image for story: FA Cup: Fulham 2 Aston Villa 1 - Report and pictures

FA Cup: Fulham 2 Aston Villa 1 - Report and pictures

Supporting image for story: Half-season report card: Aston Villa recruitment will be key in the battle for survival

Half-season report card: Aston Villa recruitment will be key in the battle for survival

January 3, 2020

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith says Aston Villa targeting players with Premier League experience in January transfer window

Dean Smith says Aston Villa targeting players with Premier League experience in January transfer window

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith: Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish will not be sold in January

Dean Smith: Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish will not be sold in January

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa duo Tom Heaton and Wesley ruled out for remainder of season

Aston Villa duo Tom Heaton and Wesley ruled out for remainder of season

Supporting image for story: Fulham v Aston Villa: Wembley winners go head-to-head

Fulham v Aston Villa: Wembley winners go head-to-head

January 2, 2020

Supporting image for story: Tyrone Mings explains how clear the air talks helped inspire Aston Villa's win at Burnley

Tyrone Mings explains how clear the air talks helped inspire Aston Villa's win at Burnley

January 1, 2020

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith: Injuries take the gloss off an enthralling Villa victory

Dean Smith: Injuries take the gloss off an enthralling Villa victory

Supporting image for story: Burnley 1 Aston Villa 2 - Report and pictures

Burnley 1 Aston Villa 2 - Report and pictures

Supporting image for story: Slaven Bilic pleas for refs to protect West Brom star Matheus Pereira

Slaven Bilic pleas for refs to protect West Brom star Matheus Pereira

December 31, 2019

Supporting image for story: Slaven Bilic hopes for answer on West Brom loanee Grady Diangana

Slaven Bilic hopes for answer on West Brom loanee Grady Diangana

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa boss Dean Smith calls for a show of belief

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith calls for a show of belief

Supporting image for story: Burnley v Aston Villa: Dean Smith's men desperately need to get year off to flying start

Burnley v Aston Villa: Dean Smith's men desperately need to get year off to flying start

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa duo Tyrone Mings and Keinan Davis could be in contention at Burnley

Aston Villa duo Tyrone Mings and Keinan Davis could be in contention at Burnley

December 30, 2019

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith read the riot act to Aston Villa players

Dean Smith read the riot act to Aston Villa players

Supporting image for story: Analysis: Aston Villa ending year of recovery under serious threat of relapse

Analysis: Aston Villa ending year of recovery under serious threat of relapse

December 28, 2019

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith questions Aston Villa's commitment after convincing loss to Watford

Dean Smith questions Aston Villa's commitment after convincing loss to Watford

Supporting image for story: Watford 3 Aston Villa 0 - Report

Watford 3 Aston Villa 0 - Report

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: Let's prove the doubters wrong

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: Let's prove the doubters wrong

December 27, 2019

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa boss Dean Smith backs players to thrive under pressure ahead of Watford six-pointer

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith backs players to thrive under pressure ahead of Watford six-pointer

Supporting image for story: Kortney Hause: Aston Villa are ready to fight their way out of relegation danger

Kortney Hause: Aston Villa are ready to fight their way out of relegation danger

December 26, 2019

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith: Three points the big thing for Aston Villa

Dean Smith: Three points the big thing for Aston Villa

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa 1 Norwich 0 - Report and pictures

Aston Villa 1 Norwich 0 - Report and pictures

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith considering a tweak or two at Aston Villa

Dean Smith considering a tweak or two at Aston Villa

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa comment: Home game... 5,000 miles across the pond

Aston Villa comment: Home game... 5,000 miles across the pond

December 25, 2019

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith demanding bravery from Aston Villa

Dean Smith demanding bravery from Aston Villa

December 24, 2019

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa boss Dean Smith refusing to hit the panic button

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith refusing to hit the panic button

December 23, 2019

Supporting image for story: John McGinn injury blow prompts January window rethink for Aston Villa

John McGinn injury blow prompts January window rethink for Aston Villa

Supporting image for story: Analysis: Alarm bells ringing after Aston Villa suffer nightmare before Christmas

Analysis: Alarm bells ringing after Aston Villa suffer nightmare before Christmas

Supporting image for story: Matt Maher: Steve Bruce is proving the critics wrong

Matt Maher: Steve Bruce is proving the critics wrong

December 22, 2019

Supporting image for story: Tom Heaton: Aston Villa players can't afford to feel sorry for themselves

Tom Heaton: Aston Villa players can't afford to feel sorry for themselves

$Supporting image for story: Aston Villa's John McGinn facing three months out with fractured ankle$

Aston Villa's John McGinn facing three months out with fractured ankle

December 21, 2019

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa 1 Southampton 3 - Report and pictures

Aston Villa 1 Southampton 3 - Report and pictures

December 20, 2019

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith: Aston Villa have "healthy list" of January targets

Dean Smith: Aston Villa have "healthy list" of January targets

December 18, 2019

Supporting image for story: James Chester ready to fight for Aston Villa starting spot after 10-month injury hell

James Chester ready to fight for Aston Villa starting spot after 10-month injury hell

December 17, 2019

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith salutes Aston Villa 'professional' performance

Dean Smith salutes Aston Villa 'professional' performance

Supporting image for story: Carabao Cup: Aston Villa 5 Liverpool 0 - Report

Carabao Cup: Aston Villa 5 Liverpool 0 - Report

Supporting image for story: Carabao Cup: Aston Villa v Liverpool preview

Carabao Cup: Aston Villa v Liverpool preview

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith: Aston Villa must focus on Carabao Cup victory

Dean Smith: Aston Villa must focus on Carabao Cup victory

December 16, 2019

Supporting image for story: Analysis: Blades defeat ramps up the pressure on Aston Villa as crunch festive period approaches

Analysis: Blades defeat ramps up the pressure on Aston Villa as crunch festive period approaches

Supporting image for story: Tom Heaton: Faltering Aston Villa need to stick together

Tom Heaton: Faltering Aston Villa need to stick together

December 14, 2019

Supporting image for story: Dean Smith: We didn't take our chances

Dean Smith: We didn't take our chances

Supporting image for story: Out of sight but Aston Villa's Kortney Hause is far from out of mind

Out of sight but Aston Villa's Kortney Hause is far from out of mind

December 13, 2019

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa boss Dean Smith backs team-mates to step up in Tyrone Mings' absence

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith backs team-mates to step up in Tyrone Mings' absence

Supporting image for story: From Wolverhampton gym to the top of the world with Anthony Joshua

From Wolverhampton gym to the top of the world with Anthony Joshua

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa told they must be up for the fight

Aston Villa told they must be up for the fight

December 12, 2019

Supporting image for story: Garry Thompson calls on Aston Villa striker Wesley to step up

Garry Thompson calls on Aston Villa striker Wesley to step up

December 11, 2019

Supporting image for story: Aston Villa face a fortnight without Tyrone Mings

Aston Villa face a fortnight without Tyrone Mings

December 10, 2019

Supporting image for story: Jack Grealish: Aston Villa still believing

Jack Grealish: Aston Villa still believing

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