Written By Hannah

Everyone is ending the year with the exact same sentiment - 2020 was shit. This year has challenged each of us in different ways, and forced us into a way of living so far from what we as humans are used to. A global pandemic really does change your perspective on things. I have spent this year sleeping, working, eating, then sleeping again. I have seen so little of my loved ones, spent so little time doing things I enjoy, and have probably grown a lot because of it. There are very few positives I can take from this year, other than the fact that I will never take life's pleasures for granted again.  In 2020 I got my first freelance role, worked all the way through the pandemic and all of its lockdowns in the NHS (no saving lives, unfortunately, but plenty of clinical letters) and got a first in my second year of university. These are my biggest and only achievements - and that is okay. Work was my only distraction and is what kept me sane in a year when I really could have crumble

Last night's last-gasp victory over Leicester marked another historical moment for Villa - four consecutive wins for the first time in 90 years. New boy Ross Barkley netted his second in two games in the 91st minute to maintain the clubs 100% league record this season, with the help of a revitalised John McGinn and his assist.    Villa also secured their third clean sheet of the campaign, conceding only two goals in four games - the best in the entire league. They are one of only two teams in the top five European leagues to still have a 100% win record this season. When we think back to the last game pre-lockdown, Leicester humiliated Villa in a 4-0 battering. Seven months on, Dean Smith's men look an entirely different picture. Unbeaten in eight, the previously fragile defense are now looking more solid than ever, with the Mings and Konsa centre back partnership proving to be extremely effective. The addition of Nottingham Forest favourite, Matty Cash, has added extra securit

Whilst Covid-19 continues to affect each and every individual in the United Kingdom, it is easy to become fixated on personal problems. In the meantime, there are many unique situations across the country, and the world, in which people's lives continue to be turned upside down by the social and economic destruction caused by the virus. Speaking to a small group of people from different walks of life, I began to understand how the lockdown and social distancing measures have impacted lives, and how people would like to move forward over the coming months. I chose to speak to three key groups; full-time key workers, self-employed workers and full-time students, all of which offered different takes on what it is like to live through a global pandemic. Olivia, 20, works in a supermarket. She has been doing many more hours than she is contracted during the outbreak due to unprecedented demand on stores to supply essential goods. Subsequently, she and her retail colleagues have been

Aston Villa failed to raise their sixth league cup on Sunday following a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at Wembley. The Midlands side were left gutted as their hopes of winning their first piece of silverware in over 20 years were dashed at the hands of a world-class City side, who made it their third consecutive victory in the competition. The action-packed final was gripping throughout with some end-to-end phases, however Manchester City's quality really shone through in Villa's final third, as each attack looked dangerous. Guardiola's side got their first goal within 20 minutes with a soft ball in from Aguero.  A familiar pain for Villa players and fans this season - conceding weak goals from crosses and set pieces. However, City's win did not come without some controversy. Their second goal was arguably the result of a foul corner, as the ball had deflected off  Gündoğan  to go behind for a goal kick. The linesman and ref were completely oblivious an

Another Tuesday night under the lights at Villa Park put Aston Villa on track for a fifth trip to Wembley in five years for the Carabou Cup Final. The semi-final second leg against Leicester began 1-1 on aggregate, meaning both teams were up for it with everything still to play for. The first leg at the King Power Stadium saw Villa take the lead with a smooth tap-in from wing back Guilbert, whilst Leicester dominated possession throughout and bagged a late equaliser through Iheanacho.  Villa Park was positively rocking with yet another trip to Wembley potentially only 90 minutes away, and as newly signed striker Mbwana Samatta made the starting lineup, the home side were set to cause an upset as the underdogs. Sitting comfortably at third place in the Premier League, Leicester could  have perhaps entered the second leg quietly confident, but with Vardy on the bench, they were missing their main man. The Foxes enjoyed around 70% possession throughout the game, particularly

Bearded Midfielder Sinclair and Skipper Clarke Pose with a delighted Leo  Tim Thursfield (Express & Star)  Two Walsall FC players surprised schoolboy Leo Garratt, 9, in a school assembly last Thursday ahead of his debut mascot appearance at Bescot Stadium. Skipper James Clarke and star man Stuart Sinclair made a guest appearance at Whetstone Field Primary School in Walsall on Thursday afternoon after Leo was given mascot for Saturday’s game against Salford City. Sinclair and Clarke took time out of a busy week of training following an important four game winning streak across all competitions. Following a devastating relegation last season to league two, new boss Darrell Clarke has regenerated the Saddlers’ side with a fifteen-player turnover, recruiting both Clarke and Sinclair. Currently sitting at fourteenth in the league table, Walsall have had a bumpy start to the season. Now almost a quarter of the way through their fixtures, the team are hoping that the

Birmingham based research may provide new hope for colitis sufferers.   Around 60% of the patients in the new study, entitled STOP-Colitis, have responded positively to faecal transplantation treatment. Faecal transplantation is the process of taking bacteria from a healthy donor’s stool and introducing it to a sick patient in order to replace the bad bacteria with good bacteria. This in turn encourages future growth of good bacteria to prevent the bug recurring. The study, which began in 2017, is just one of many investigations in the U.K to focus on FMT as a form of treatment for patients with colitis, a form of irritable bowel disease (IBD). It is estimated that around 300,000 people in the U.K suffer with irritable bowel disease, meaning that one in every 210 people suffer from a form of IBD across the country.  It was first tested and proven effective on patients infected by the superbug clostridium difficile (c-diff), but the pilot has targeted specifically

A Leonardo Da Vinci-inspired bridge spanned Broadgate last Saturday 28 th September, built by Imagineer Productions, a live events company based in Coventry. The bridge was just one of 20 to be erected across the city as part of a week long series of events to inspire the the union of local communities. The bridges were built across the city of Coventry in schools, parks and other hotspots such as Broadgate following a successful stint of shows in Grantham earlier in the month. The free daytime events welcomed those of all ages to pariticipate.  During a roster of  events in Broadgate on Saturday, Coventrians enjoyed a silent disco, live DJ set and a performance from Ascension Dance Company.  'The aim is to try to help bring arts and dance to different people in the city’, said Ashley Jordan, executive director of Ascension Dance.  Upon speaking to Ashley, one of Ascension Dance’s directors, it was clear how much community means to coventry residents.  He s

Liam Gallagher’s “ Why Me? Why Not. ” – Modern Brit-Pop with Nostalgia Bursting at The Seams Gallagher’s second solo album packs an even larger punch than his first. With catchy guitar riffs and big string accompaniments, we are taken back to his gritty Oasis roots. The 11 track LP, like his platinum-selling debut, was co-written by song writing giants Greg Kurstin and Andrew Wyatt. Liam has admitted on numerous occasions that his brother, Noel is the better songwriter in the duo, so it is not surprising to see him getting a helping hand on this project. However, he is not quick to sing songs of praise for his ex-Oasis partner on this album.  In ‘Now That I’ve Found You’, one of the opening lines declares “Time builds a bridge through our blood line”, symbolising the fractured relationship. In ‘One of Us’ he makes reference to his Oasis days - ‘You said we’d live forever.’ This song is perhaps the most emotionally charged I have heard from Gallagher in his solo years. He br