By Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist
Sunderland earned a point against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday with a dramatic late equaliser. Brian Brobbey’s 94th-minute strike grabbed the headlines and Gunners boss Mikel Arteta blamed the “chaos” caused by Sunderland’s direct approach, but one of the hosts’ more unusual tactics also stood out.
The Black Cats attempted to limit Arsenal’s threat from set-pieces — specifically long throw-ins — by moving the advertising hoardings to give the Gunners less room for their run-ups. “It might have been the wind,” Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris joked afterwards. It did not stop Declan Rice trying to hurl the ball into the box, but with Arsenal failing to score from a throw-in and the game finishing all square, Sunderland can argue the ploy helped.
This is not a new trick; Sunderland used it against Coventry in last season’s Championship play-offs, and Stoke’s former long-throw specialist Rory Delap accused clubs of giving his side similar treatment. BBC Sport looks at other creative ways teams have tried to gain an edge over the years.
Norwich’s pink away dressing room
In 2018-19 Norwich painted their away dressing room “deep pink” in the belief the colour has a calming effect and can lower testosterone. The idea was borrowed from the University of Iowa’s American football team. Sport psychology lecturer Dr Alexander Latinjak said pink can trigger childhood associations and might be used tactically. Norwich replaced the pink with white before 2019-20 and were relegated that season — coincidence, probably.
The many tricks of Cambridge
Cambridge United under John Beck in the early 1990s were masters of marginal gains and mind games. Former player Dion Dublin recalled tactics such as making opponents take freezing cold showers, manipulating the away dressing room temperature, leaving warm-up balls in baths so they were heavy, sweetening opponents’ tea to make it undrinkable, locking dressing rooms to delay access and keeping corner grass longer to aid long-ball tactics. Cambridge climbed from the old Division Four to the Division Two play-offs in three years under Beck, so the methods produced results.
Crazy Gang kick up a stink
Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang were famous for intimidation and mind games in the 1980s. Ahead of the 1988 FA Cup final against Liverpool, striker John Fashanu said the players did not shower or brush their teeth for a week to unsettle the opposition with their stench. A ferocious early tackle from Vinnie Jones set the tone and Wimbledon went on to beat Liverpool 1-0 to lift the trophy.
Souness narrows pitch
In September 1987 Rangers manager Graeme Souness took advantage of looser rules on pitch dimensions to make Ibrox as narrow as allowed before a European tie with Dynamo Kyiv. The Kyiv players had trained on the regular-sized pitch, and Souness reduced the width for the match to encourage a more physical game. Rangers won 2-0 and progressed, but rules were later tightened so clubs must now declare pitch size before a season begins.
West Ham made our bus park a mile away — Gerrard
Liverpool, chasing the title in April 2014, travelled to West Ham and captain Steven Gerrard complained afterwards that the hosts had tried to “upset” his side with a hot dressing room, a dry pitch and by forcing the Liverpool bus to park far from the ground. West Ham chairman David Gold responded by saying no one had forced the bus driver and that teams could simply turn down the heating if it was too warm.
Mourinho grows grass to thwart Guardiola
Jose Mourinho has often sought small advantages. In 2011, before a run of four Clasicos in 18 days between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Mourinho reportedly told Bernabeu ground staff to let the grass grow longer to disrupt Barcelona’s quick passing. The first game finished 1-1 and tensions between the clubs only increased. Arsene Wenger also famously complained about pitch grass length at Stoke, and Stoke’s long grass was known to suit certain styles.
These examples show teams will try almost anything — from moving hoardings and varying dressing-room temperatures to altering pitch size and grass length, even personal hygiene — if they believe it gives them an edge. Some ploys led to rules changes; others remain part of football folklore when a bit of gamesmanship paid off.
