Leeds United were perhaps unlucky to leave Elland Road without even a point against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, and John McGinn was front and centre during Villa’s comeback win.
The pressure has increased on Leeds manager Daniel Farke after a fifth defeat in six, but if there are any positives of Sunday’s loss to Unai Emery’s Europe-chasing Villa, it is that Leeds deserved more than a loss.
Who was your Leeds United MOTM against Aston Villa?
The Whites took the lead as Lukas Nmecha scored his third goal of the season, but a brace from Morgan Rogers saw Villa come from behind to win 2-1. The second time Leeds have lost after taking the lead.
While the performance was much improved compared to losses at Brighton and Forest, it is still a loss. A fifth in six for Leeds and Farke, who is now under intense pressure. John McGinn was in the thick of it.
John McGinn sends message to Leeds fans after Aston Villa win
Having been a part of the Villa side that battled Leeds in the Championship and part of the team that were allowed to walk through a goal against Leeds back in 2018-19, McGinn often gets flak from fans.
Sunday was no different, with McGinn often the subject of some chants. After the game, McGinn posted on X, describing Elland Road as “tough” while sarcastically thanking Leeds fans for their “welcome”.
He said: “Big character from the boys to come from behind at a tough venue. Flung about like a wet trackie but enjoyed the friendly welcome. UTV.”
John McGinn’s run-in with Leeds United fans in the past
As aforementioned, McGinn was part of the Villa side that were fighting Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds to go up in 2018-19. A side that wasn’t particularly likeable from a Leeds point of view, managed by Dean Smith.
McGinn played 90 minutes in a side that saw Leeds controversially score through Mateusz Klich and all hell broke loose, before Bielsa ordered his players to allow Villa to equalise, Albert Adomah scoring.
Then, there was McGinn injuring an incredibly young Archie Gray in pre-season in Australia, stunting Gray’s growth for a season. He also called Leeds “fortunate” for nabbing a point in a 3-3 draw in 2022.
McGinn is one of those players that often gets in a referee’s face, trying to balance the tide in Villa’s favour. The kind of player that fans would love to have, and hate to face and for Leeds, it is the latter.
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