Footy Eye
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Third-man runs and combinations

A third-man run is when player A passes to player B, who sets the ball first time to player C, who was moving while the first pass travelled.

Combinations beat a press because the defender watches the ball and the player receiving it, not the runner arriving from somewhere else. By the time he turns, the ball has already gone past him.

The idea covers one-twos, layoffs to a teammate facing forward, and first-time passes that switch the play through a third player. It depends on timing: the third player has to move before the second pass is made.

What to look for

  • A teammate who can receive and set the ball first time
  • The runner who is moving forward while the ball travels
  • A defender who is fixed on the player receiving
  • Space behind the player who presses the receiver

The common mistakeTurning with the ball into pressure when a first-time layoff to a teammate facing forward was on.

Worked plays

7 plays from Footy Eye's training pool, with the best read and why.

  1. Play 1

    The situation
    You’re the pivot against a compact mid-block. Your striker drops short; a midfielder breaks beyond.
    Best read
    Striker’s feet, runner takes the layoff
    Why
    The third man opens a mid-block: the striker’s drop drags a marker, and his layoff releases the runner through the gap it left. The sideways ball keeps possession but never breaks a line. A pass into feet isn’t the end of the move; it’s the trigger.
    The other options
    • Take them on through the middle Three midfielders close you down and win it in the middle.
    • Clip it long over the top The clip runs too long for your runner, and their defence collects it.
    • Recycle sideways and keep circulating You keep the ball, but the block stays intact in front of you.

  2. Play 2

    The situation
    Centre-back on the ball, their striker sprinting at you. Your pivot is beside you, marker a stride off; grass behind the run.
    Best read
    One-two off the pivot, run past him
    Why
    A man sprinting at you has spent his balance: one touch off your pivot and you go past the shoulder he can’t turn on, arriving in midfield with their first line behind you. Dribbling round him gives him what he wants: a chance to slow you, jockey, and let his side catch up.
    The other options
    • Stand him up and dribble round He checks his sprint, jockeys you, and his teammates arrive.
    • Back to the keeper, round the other side It goes back safely, but their first line stays in front of you.
    • Clip it over the top before he arrives Nobody’s there to chase it, and they win it back in midfield.

  3. Play 3

    The situation
    Your pivot bounces it into the striker’s feet and their line steps up. You’re arriving late from midfield.
    Best read
    Make the third-man run into space
    Why
    The wall pass beats the block: one bounce and you’re through. The striker’s job is to set — yours is to already be running as he lays it off, into the space behind the line. Third-man runs are unmarkable because nobody tracks the man who didn’t touch it.
    The other options
    • Call for it back to feet He sets it to your feet, and their line squeezes up in front.
    • Pull up and hold your position The striker has no run to find, and their centre-back wins it.
    • Peel wide to stretch the play You drift wide, and the striker is left to hold it alone.

  4. Play 4

    The situation
    Everything has slid your way. The far full-back is free but fifty yards off; your pivot has opened up on the half-turn.
    Best read
    Into the pivot, he switches first time
    Why
    A fifty-yard ball hangs long enough for their block to slide, so the free man collects it with a defender on him and his back to play. Your ten-yard pass plus the pivot’s one touch beats one long pass: two short balls travel faster, and the switch lands while the far side is still empty.
    The other options
    • Hit the fifty-yard diagonal yourself The ball hangs, and a defender reaches your full-back as it lands.
    • Carry across until the picture changes Their presser closes you down before the picture changes.
    • Down the line, settle for the throw You win a throw, and they stay packed around it.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    Your six is about to receive with his back to goal. Their midfielder is closing him over his right shoulder.
    Best read
    Get round his open side for the bounce
    Why
    A man facing his own goal can only play what he can already see, so appear on the side the presser is not. One bounce off you and the pressure is beaten with the ball going forward. The run in behind is a pass he physically cannot make with his back turned.
    The other options
    • Run in behind, give him something forward He can’t see the run, and the presser arrives on his shoulder.
    • Show on the same side as the presser Your angle runs through the presser, and he cuts out the pass.
    • Hold your position and let him deal With no angle to play, he’s pressed from behind and loses it.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    You win a loose ball in midfield, back to goal, a man on your shoulder. Your six is behind you, facing forward.
    Best read
    Lay it off first time to your six
    Why
    The fastest counter belongs to whoever can see it. One touch to the six and the ball is forward before their line turns — third man, no risk, full speed. Turning into contact gives it back in the worst place, and buying the foul stops the clock and lets them set their block.
    The other options
    • Turn into the pressure and drive forward He stays tight as you turn and wins it back in midfield.
    • Buy the foul, let the team get up The referee gives it, and they drop into their block.
    • Hit it long over the top yourself He blocks your swing, and the ball breaks to them.

Train it

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Train Third-man runs and combinations

Test it

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