Aston Villa ended a 12-year wait to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, winning 1-0 in Manchester on Saturday, and Alan Rough said John McGinn was ‘magnificent’.
The 26-year-old was diligent defensively to limit United to only four shots on target at home while also providing an attacking threat. Rough enjoyed McGinn bossing the game despite coming up against stellar talent and credited his industry in midfield to ensure United had to work for every ball.
He told the PLZ Football Show: “The pleasing thing for me from that game is, as you say, they all talk about Ronaldo and Fernandes and the players, and the Pogbas – John McGinn, he just was magnificent, he just bossed the game.
“And his touch and you can see the aggression. They just couldn’t handle him. You know, the way he was putting himself about. And it just shows you don’t need to be a big name to be a big star.”
McGinn has made five Premier League appearances this season, scoring one goal. He’s been a regular at the heart of the midfield and is indispensable to Dean Smith. Villa wouldn’t be 8th in the Premier League table without McGinn, so Rough is right to praise him. He’s not the only pundit to single out the Scot either.
Next up for Villa is a trip to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Midlands outfit, who boast two wins from their last three games, are three places and one point better off in the table than Tottenham, who have lost their last three.
In other news, Gabriel Agbonlahor lavishes praise on Emi Martinez after Man Utd win
