Had it not been for Victor Valdes’ slip, Chris Smalling would have experienced the most embarrassing moment at The Riverside as Middlesbrough hosted Manchester United.
With the ball bouncing in front of him, the renegade United defender decided to ignore the key word in the name of the sport and opt to use his head to pass rather than his foot.
He started the process well, keeping his eye on the ball, biding his time to unleash the perfect headed-pass.
After going through his grocery list in his head, the time finally came for Smalling to shine.
He bent down towards the dropping ball, hoping that his ambitious aim would be enough to beat gravity to the punch.
Obviously, he wasn’t quick enough.
His head met nothing but air as the ball fell below his chin.
Already engaged in a diving header, his forward momentum meant that he couldn’t stop himself.
His body sailed over the ball which bounced on the turf just below his chest.
Wait, where did it go?
Oh there it is!
The only saving grace for Smalling is that he somehow found a man.
It may not have been the man he intended to find and he may not have been even aware that there was a man to find, but that dodgy header-come-chest will go down in the record books as a completed pass.
Totally meant it.
Header? Chest? Phil Jones impression?
Chris Smalling completed the pass in the end. pic.twitter.com/LwMDSG4BXw
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 19, 2017
