Players making dummy or decoy runs whatever they are called now, seldom get the recognition for this. For one thing it might be difficult for the analysts to ‘measure’ or record it as opposed to factually who passed the last ball to the scorer.
So from yesterday, Smallbone has his straightforward pass registered as an assist, but his subsequent play in making space for Brooks - probably more significant in the goal - goes unnoticed.
Tends to support the question over the reliability of such stats, in my view.
Or perhaps he deserves two ‘assists’.