McGINN IS THE PERFECT TONIC FOR VILLA
John McGInn left Villa Park with a few bumps and bruises, although nothing compared to the accidental spearing at the hands of a team-mate a few years ago.
While a rookie at St Mirren, the midfielder pierced his thigh after captain Steven Thompson launched a spiked pole ‘for a laugh’. McGinn missed the final four games of that season and never played for the club again.
Burnley were particularly prickly on McGinn here. Aston Villa manager Dean Smith bemoaned ‘tag team’ tactics of attempting to kick his best player out of the game. ‘It wasn’t fair,’ Smith said. ‘They’ve targeted him.’
It was not hard to see why. The 24-year- old’s reputation is soaring, thanks to his energy and eye for a pass. he has three goals this season but his game is offering so much more.
Sir Alex Ferguson has privately admitted that he felt Manchester United should have taken a closer look at McGinn when he left hibernian for £3.5million last year.
hibs have a significant sell-on clause, believed to be upwards of 25 per cent, and Steve Bruce’s relationship with neil Lennon was a key component in sorting the deal. It certainly feels conceivable that United may now heed Ferguson’s advice.
McGinn has the sort of personality United say they want in their players. Scotland recognition came under Gordon Strachan when the manager witnessed him clambering off a coach while on Under 21 duty. The rest of the squad ambled into the team hotel, but McGinn stayed behind to carry equipment for the kit man. he made his international debut soon after, even though he was still playing in the Scottish second tier. Those who know him talk of a humble character, one who constantly uses his corporate tickets to invite Scottish charities to Villa Park.
on Saturday, he said he wants Villa to become more pragmatic, after twice surrendering a lead against Burnley.
‘I think personally, that was the best performance of the season,’ McGinn said. ‘We have said it so many times before, it is just managing the game and doing what other teams do — even if it is not pretty.
‘Just boot it away or kick it as far high up in the stands as possible and regroup. We seemed to win the ball back and then we didn’t regroup quickly enough and got punished.’ ASTON VILLA (4-1-4-1): Heaton 6; Guilbert 6.5, Engels 6, Mings 6, Targett 7 (Taylor 62min, 5.5); Nakamba 7; El Ghazi 7 (Trezequet 70, 6), McGINN 8, Hourihane 7, Grealish 7; Wesley 6 (Davis 88). Subs not used: Steer, Luiz, Ngoyo, Jota. Booked: Trezequet. Scorers: El Ghazi 33, McGinn 79. Manager: Dean Smith 6.5. BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 6.5; Lowton 6.5, Tarkowski 6, Mee 5, Pieters 6.5; Hendrick 7, Westwood 6, Cork 5 (Rodriguez 46, 7), McNeil 7; Barnes 7 (Brady 82), Wood 7. Subs not used: Hart, Gudmundsson, Gibson, Lennon, Bardsley. Booked: Tarkowski, Westwood, Barnes, Rodriguez. Scorers: Rodriguez 68, Wood 81. Manager: Sean Dyche 7. Referee: Lee Mason 5. Attendance: 41,546