McGinn message kicks off countdown to derby clash

VILLA’S players hope their demolition of Derby will make the Championship “sit up and take notice” ahead of the Second City showdown against fierce rivals Blues.

John McGinn got the ball rolling in the 3-0 victory at Pride Park and is now relishing facing Blues at Villa Park on Sunday, November 25.

McGinn, a summer signing from Hibs, has spoken about the importance of keeping a calm head against Blues.

Facing Blues I have heard a lot about the derby. I didn’t know they were nicknamed Blues until I joined but I have heard a lot about them. It’s not going to be easy. It will be a tough game but one I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into and hopefully sending the fans home happy. For a game like that , you need confidence and the Derby win was a massive one for that. All the boys played at the top of their game. If we take that into the Birmingham game we will give ourselves a good chance.

Second City rivalry I’m not English but I am aware of the rivalry, the derby. You know what it means to people.

I have been lucky enough to play in a good one in Edinburgh. These are the sort of games I relish. You know what it means to people.

They don’t want to be going into work on a Monday morning with a defeat. We will be doing everything we can to win that one.

I think you just need to keep a cool head. It’s easy to get sucked in and get an early booking or get sent off.

The win at Derby We’re delighted but there is also a bit of relief. The longer the second half went on, playing that well and the goal not coming, you know what football is like. It can sometimes bite you on the backside. Thankfully we got the first goal and it was never in doubt after that.

Maintaining a high level We have set the standard now. It’s a very difficult league, we all know that. To win in this league you have to be at it and everyone needs to be working hard. We have not seen it enough this season. Hopefully the fans will go away satisfied that everyone has given 100 per cent.

It needs to be that all the time. That is the benchmark now. We need to use this performance to go into the derby and really kick on.

Sending a message to rivals When you see the squad of players we have it should make people sit up and take notice. But it is irrelevant if you are not putting performances in.

It is pleasing to maybe silence a few critics but we need to really show what this squad can do. It’s no use just doing it for one game. We need to try and carry it on.

Climbing the table It’s a mad league. One win can take you up six or seven places, while a defeat takes you the other way. It’s so important to try and put a run together.

The most successful teams can put six or seven wins together in a row and that is something we are aiming for. Hopefully this can be the start of it.