Quote Originally Posted by Cowbridge Blue View Post
The boy could probably do with a lift after a difficult day so, with the benefit of Ifollow's match highlights, his 95th minute free kick was well-executed and goalbound forcing Westwood into a bit of a hash at the base of his near post. The gk could only parry it out for Mendez-Laing - no more than a couple of yards out - to square it for Bamba to force home.

Let's hope this court case gets settled quickly so Tomlin can be given his chance to start a few games. No doubt he is grateful to the manager for showing faith and eager to show gratitude.
I found the free kick interesting. I felt, like you, that Westwood had made a bit of a hash of it which threw me because he's such a good keeper. Tomlin had been playing mind games with him while setting it up and just before he takes it he crouches down to look at a gap in the wall as though he's going to put it far post. This bothers a defender who turns round to make sure where Westwood is. I'm not sure whether Westwood falls for it or not but he does seem a bit slow in getting to the ball, excellent free kick but it's at a good height for him and not right in the corner. He looks in two minds when Tomlin runs up to take it, tentatively taking a couple of steps to the right but keeping his body weight to the left which makes him a little slow in getting to the ball. Maybe there was nothing more he could do but fair play to Tomlin for trying to unsettle him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFI_dz1L9o4 (the free kick comes at around 7.20)

I've never really looked at a free kick like that before. I think City do an excellent job in confusing the Wednesday defence and then attacking the save, even though a lot of it is routine stuff, I'm sure. Ralls takes up a position as though he might take it with his left foot, this forces Wednesday to put an extra two or three men in the wall which leaves Mendez-Laing free to run in on goal unmarked after the kick's taken. We also stick three men (including Bamba) to attack the far post which may have confused Westwood too. It ends up in a position where Mendez-Laing, those three players and Morrison (who'd jumped out of the wall) are in the 6-yard box with only one defender covering. Of course, the ball still has to break for you but we couldn't have done more to maximise our chances in that situation and deserved the goal that came