There’s a well-known adage in basketball, when defending one-against-one, “cut-off the baseline.”   The baseline equates to the bye-line in football.

In the Premier League game last night, Manchester City v Aston Villa, both teams were vying for Champions League qualification.   Marcus Rashford was put through on just seventeen seconds into the game and was unfortunate that his shot hit the post and rebounded back straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.

Then, Man City took the lead.   Marmoush was attacking down the left up against the full-back, Matty Cash.   There was another Villa player on hand to help-out Cash which would have been ideal for the full-back to work with in showing the forward the inside track.   The decision was made to show the winger the outside track, to the bye-line.   The cross was made and turned in at the far post.

Villa got back on terms when a penalty was awarded belatedly but deservedly following a VAR intervention.   Rashford, a reformed player since leaving United, stepped up and despatched it confidently.

Now, with the five minutes of stoppage time at the end of full-time virtually complete, City are again attacking down the left.   A different full-back this time, Cash had been substituted, and he was more isolated as his teammate had just made a token challenge on the newly arrived substitute, Doku, in so doing removed himself from the action.   This is a separate issue altogether.

Doku, known for his exciting pace and extraordinary wing play, was again shown the outside track.   This is obviously club policy.   Not unlike their first goal, Doku’s blistering pace took him to the bye-line, the cross despatched and City were triumphant and move to third in the Premier League, eyeing a Champions League spot.

Generally, in football the preferred option when a defender is one-on-one with an attacker in and around the box is to show the attacker “the line” or outside track.   This strategy may stem from a zonal defensive system that does not prioritise the support role of the defenders.   This is not necessarily an incorrect strategy but, depending on the circumstances, it may not be a correct one.   The case for showing down the line is that there is a reduced angle for a shot on goal and a better chance of making a tackle which would also cancel out any potential danger from a cross.   The inside track potentially steers the opponent into traffic but opens-up the angle for a shot on goal.

On both occasions the tackle was not made and highlights the need for a second defender in these situations which then puts the advantage with the defending team.   Basketball could well have something to offer football!