Watch the full-back first

Most people watch the ball. I watch where the full-back stands when his team has possession. If he is high and wide, the space behind him is open. The opponent's winger knows it. The centre-back knows it. The only question is whether the pass arrives.

I saw a match last week where the left-back kept pushing into the final third. His team lost the ball, and the space behind him was twice the size of the pitch. The opposition scored from that exact channel. Not a lucky break. A structural problem.

Before you place a bet, check the full-back positions in the first ten minutes. If they are too high and the covering midfielder is slow, the price on the counter-attack market might be worth a look. Keep the stake ordinary. One observation, one small bet.

The space behind a full-back is either covered or it is a goal waiting to happen.

Question: Which full-back do you watch first when you are reading a match?