Dean Smith insists Aston Villa followed the protocols around John McGinn’s concussion substitution during the 3-0 victory over Everton. Smith’s side swept the Toffees away with a second half blitz in which Matty Cash and Leon Bailey scored, with the latter also forcing an own goal from Lucas Digne. By that stage McGinn had been replaced by Marvelous Nakamba having complained of feeling dizzy. Smith was asked about the circumstances in his post-match interview with Sky Sports
Dean Smith said: “He is OK, I think it was the early corner where Tyrone [Mings] got the header. He got a whack on the head, I think he clashed heads with Keane and he just felt a bit groggy. He said to me before, the first break ‘If I feel any more dizzy I am going to have to give you a shout’ . He got another whack, he felt he was fine to carry on. After that he made another run after about 25 minutes, there was a break in play, he came over, that’s when he alerted me to it and I told the doctor, that’s why we got it done then. You are guided by the player, he didn’t express concussion symptoms as soon as he had done it. Just a whack on the head, there was another one later on that he certainly did tell us.”
Smith also played down concern over Bailey’s fitness. The Jamaican was only on the field for 21 minutes – replacing Matt Targett, having a hand in two goals and then himself being replaced by Ashley Young.
Dean Smith said: “It’s really special. He is a really good player that is why we have got him here at the football club but on top of that he is a really good lad as well, the lads love him in the dressing room. He is really humble and a really good person. We know he is going to be a special talent for us. We hope it’s just a tight thigh, that’s what he said to the doctors so we didn’t need to risk it at that time. We hope we just caught it in time and it’s a tight quad.”
Matt Targett felt an abductor injury at half time before coming off for Bailey after an hour.
