MCGINN & PALS IN HUNT FOR GOALS
LEEDS will face an Aston Villa side fired up to get a pile of goals, writes John Wragg.
John McGinn reveals boss Dean Smith was unhappy with Villa only putting four past Birmingham City in the local derby a month ago.
They went on to score five against Nottingham Forest in an amazing 5-5 draw in their next game and since then have scored seven in their last three.
Since Smith took over Villa have smashed 23 in ten games. Only once have they been goalless and they have scored two or more in their last seven unbeaten matches. But it’s not good enough.
McGinn, who volleyed one of the goals of the year against Sheffield Wednesday three months ago, says swashbuckling Smith wants more.
“The manager wasn’t too pleased with us passing the ball around at the back towards the end of the game with Birmingham,” says McGinn.
“He wants us to score goals. He wants to entertain. That’s something that’s feeding through the whole squad.
“Even at 4-2 up in that derby the manager was telling us he wants his team to be exciting. What he doesn’t want is us getting into the mode where we are hanging on to one or two-goal leads.
“He wants to attack and go and hurt the other teams. It’s refreshing, to be honest. It’s great to play in that style. “The problem is when you are throwing that many bodies forward it does leave you open at the back, so that is something we are working on, trying to get the transition better.”
McGinn, 24, has been a huge success since former Villa boss Steve Bruce bought him from Hibernian for £2.75m, a deal that is likely to be the steal of the season.
Celtic wanted him but could not agree a fee with Hibs and McGinn, a Celtic fan, missed out on his dream move.
“It was hard to focus at Hibs when the team you’ve supported all your life is chasing you,” says McGinn. Not that he’s worried now.
“That 5-5 with Nottingham Forest was my second five-each of the year,” he says.
Hibs got a 93rd minute goal to draw 5-5 at home with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership in May.
“It was the last game of last season,” adds McGinn. “Over the next couple of games with Villa I might squeeze another one in for 2018!” McGinn was thrown straight into the team by Bruce and Villa fans have loved him since he set up two goals in a 3-2 home win over Wigan on his debut. “I’ll be forever grateful to Steve Bruce for bringing me here,” says McGinn. “He sat me down and said he wanted me in the team straightaway. I had belief in myself and I just needed the chance to show I can cut it here. “The difference between Steve Bruce going and Dean Smith coming in is the different style of play. At the time I came there were a lot of new players and they hadn’t gelled properly. “Now the new manager is here and the players are gelling a lot more. We have had more time together on the training pitch. We are more of a threat going forward. There are a lot of top midfielders here, but I felt I had something different to offer and from that first game I have managed to show that. “Aston Villa just felt right. Sometimes you get a feel for the place, you know? That decision has been justified. I’m playing my football every week and I hope I can help Aston Villa get back to where it belongs.”