‘Second ball’ may be a Sunday league mantra but Yates showed its top-flight relevance

Modern football is more systematised and data-driven than ever but some things never change. Winning the first ball is important but the second ball – often considered a Sunday league mantra – is frequently more crucial. Nottingham Forest's 3-1 win against Manchester City last weekend featured a classic example that may have changed the course of Forest's season.

The Decisive Duel

Forest led 2-1 inside the last 20 minutes when City, lifted by Rayan Cherki's goal, were pushing for an equaliser. During another City attack down their right flank, after Jair Cunha's clearing header from a deep Matheus Nunes cross, the ball looped into the Forest penalty area. Ryan Yates, Forest's midfield general, was pressed by Argentina international Enzo Fernández as the ball dropped.

Yates stood his ground, using his strength to hold off Fernández's challenge. The Argentine ended up on the turf as Yates not only won the crucial one-on-one but also cleverly improvised an overhead kick to shift the ball away from danger. This inadvertently began a counterattack that would prove decisive.

The Aftermath

Liam Delap shepherded the ball to Morgan Gibbs-White. City were hopelessly exposed as Gibbs-White drove forward, receiving a pass from Delap who then took one touch before swerving a sensational shot into the far corner for 3-1. The goal, which will compete for goal of the month, was made possible only by Yates's earlier work.

Oliver Glasner understood the importance of the moment and sprinted to celebrate with his players. After a barren scoring run, Delap suddenly had two goals in one afternoon. Twelve seconds after Yates won the duel, Forest had a two-goal cushion rather than facing a desperate fight to maintain their lead.

Enduring Importance

The second ball remains part of the elite game's lexicon despite being a pleasingly old-school term. Premier League managers sometimes point to opponents' second-ball prowess – often as a back-handed compliment suggesting they 'feed off scraps at set pieces rather than creating from open play.'

Managers increasingly rely on data and predictable outcomes, preferring to remove risk and exert control. But while the outcome of a one-on-one duel can never be certain, the consequences can often be far-reaching. Against City, Yates was named in Forest's starting lineup and given the captain's armband for the first time this season, with his performance emphatically proving that his attributes of graft and tenacity still hold value at the highest level.

Win the first one if you can. But it's the second ball that often makes the difference.