Frustration doubled up for McGinn
Less than 24 hours after sitting in the stand at Wembley, John McGinn found himself on the pitch at easter Road but facing an all-toofamiliar problem.
scotland’s inability to take their opportunities against england on Friday left the 22-year-old frustrated as he wore his tracksuit instead of shocking pink — not even a place on the substitutes’ bench awaited McGinn.
Immediately after that disappointment, the Hibernian midfielder flew back home and in no time, he was placed into Neil Lennon’s starting line-up to face Falkirk.
Anything scotland can do Hibs can do, too, it seems. Their failure to convert numerous chances was even more troubling given the Bairns had been reduced to ten men midway through the first half after Tom Taiwo was sent off for a lunge at McGinn. striker John Baird sensationally fired the visitors in front in the second half before the Leith men salvaged a draw thanks to Paul Hanlon’s late header. McGinn’s assist for the goal proved he had enough energy in the tank.
‘I arrived back at my flat at 3am on saturday morning,’ said McGinn. ‘It wasn’t ideal but I got a decent enough sleep and I felt all right.
‘It was hectic. But I’d do anything to help the cause. It would have been a waste if I had sat in the stand back here — given I didn’t play for scotland. I wasn’t 100-per-cent fit but I was fit enough to play a part.’
Give McGinn this. He is a realistic, mature player. But with scotland’s hopes of qualifying for Russia 2018 in tatters, surely there can be no harm in him being given the chance on the international stage to add to his two caps.
Unlike scotland boss Gordon strachan, time is on the midfielder’s side.
‘It was a good experience,’ said McGinn of his week with scotland. ‘Obviously, I was really disappointed not to be involved but I respect the manager’s decision. There are a lot of really good players in the squad and I’m still young.
‘I have a lot of time on my hands. I was lucky enough to be with the squad all week and learn again. I feel I trained well and learned a lot. There are more positives than negatives.
‘It was hammer blow after hammer blow every time an england goal went in. They all came at the wrong times because, overall, I thought we had the better chances.
‘The boys that came in — Lee Wallace, James Forrest — they all performed well. We have to learn to take the chances at the right time and be more clinical.’
The same can be applied to Hibs. A mixture of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping by Danny Rogers denied the easter Road club an earlier goal and the chance to earn the win that would have taken them three points clear at the top of the Championship.
McGinn, for one, did not need reminding of Rogers’ great display, saying: ‘Aye, I know. He’s a really good goalkeeper — it’s just a shame he is not on duty with the Republic of Ireland squad.’
Taiwo’s tackle on McGinn ignited this game. Both players did not need a second invitation to attack a loose ball in the Falkirk half. Referee John Beaton flashed the red card and from then on, there was added bite.
‘Taiwo has caught my ankle but I don’t know if it should have been a yellow or red card,’ said McGinn. ‘I’m not sure how high the challenge was. If the referee decides it’s a red, then it must be.’
Baird’s excellent hooked finish looked to have bagged the points for the Bairns before Hanlon headed home at the back post five minutes later.
‘They are always feisty games,’ added McGinn. ‘It’s two good teams. Falkirk never make it easy for you and are always up for the battle.’
Baird insists the Bairns must rediscover their battling qualities to push for the play-offs.
‘I think we have let ourselves down at times so far at the start of the season and we need to get back to the type of team we were last season,’ said Baird. ‘We had a lot of fire in our belly today.’