John McGinn believes Aston Villa have become ‘nastier’ to play against in recent weeks after their 0-0 draw at Leeds United. The Whites were forced to hold firm in the second half following the red card for Luis Sinisterra just four minutes after the interval.
For much of the 90 minutes, though particularly in the first half, it was very much a stop-start affair. Referee Stuart Attwell, who struggled to control the game throughout, blew for 35 fouls which meant neither side were able to build up ahead of steam.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch also felt Attwell failed to clamp down on Villa’s game management tactics during the first half, claiming the match was played at ‘a snail’s pace’. Speaking post-match, though, Villa midfielder McGinn claimed that while the overriding emotion after the game was ‘frustration’, becoming ‘nastier’ to play against is a good thing.
READ MORE: Illan Meslier on 'feeling sorry' for Leeds United supporters after Aston Villa stalement
He told avfc.co.uk : “We had to stop the rot, it was a bad run of form we were going on, we were conceding poor goals, we weren’t putting our bodies on the line. We’ve become a little bit nastier to play against which is a good thing.
“So, to take the positives out of it, that is what we’ll do; we kept another clean sheet at a tough place. But the overall feeling is frustration in the dressing room.”
READ NEXT:
- Every word Jesse Marsch said on Leeds United's draw, officiating, Gelhardt and Bamford's knock
- Jesse Marsch tears into referee bosses on Leeds United's Elland Road problem
- Leeds United winners and losers as Whites hold firm vs Aston Villa after Luis Sinisterra red
- Leeds United player ratings as Koch and Cooper hold steady in Aston Villa draw ruined by referee
- Rate every Leeds United player performance after Aston Villa 0-0 draw