The secret to clinching a win when you’re 0-1 down in the 85th minute on Football Manager

There’s no worse feeling in Football Manager than being behind with only minutes left, watching your team struggle to create a single good chance. It feels like you could play for another 500 minutes and still not score.

So what do you do? It’s tempting to panic and push every player forward, but what actually works? Let’s break down the best tactical adjustments to increase your chances of salvaging something from the game. Obviously, this won’t guarantee an equaliser every time, but it will put you in the best position to make something happen.

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Best Tactical Instructions to Get a Comeback

One of the first things I always do when chasing a goal is to increase the attacking width. This makes tactical sense—it stretches the opposition defence, creates more space, and aligns with the current Football Manager meta, where width and flank play are overpowered. If you haven’t already enabled overlaps, now is the time to do it. Getting your full-backs involved forces the opposition to think harder about their defensive shape and opens up the pitch even more.

Pass Into Space is another key instruction. It’s a riskier approach, but when you need a goal, risks are necessary. This encourages players to play through balls to runners, exploiting gaps in the opposition’s tiring defence. To further embrace risk, Be More Expressive is a great instruction to activate when trailing. This allows players more creative freedom, leading to unexpected openings and chances.

Finally, increase the tempo. A slow build-up suits the AI, giving it time to reset its shape. Playing faster forces the opposition to scramble and react, which is exactly what you want in the closing stages. With limited time left, patience is a luxury you can’t afford.

Other Instructions to Consider:

• Trigger Press on Opposition Fullbacks – If they’re sitting deep, force them into mistakes.
• Hit Early Crosses – Particularly effective if you have aerially dominant attackers.
• Get Stuck In – Adds aggression to your pressing, but be mindful of potential cards.
• High Press & High Defensive Line – You’re probably already using this (because let’s be honest, gegenpress is king in Football Manager), but if not, now’s the time.

Don’t Make Radical Changes to Tactics, Mentality, and Formation

One of the biggest mistakes players make when chasing a game is overhauling their entire system in desperation. If your team suddenly finds itself in an unfamiliar setup, the players won’t execute it well. Instead of ripping up your tactical plan, make incremental changes that build pressure without disrupting the team’s rhythm.

For example:

• Convert a Central Midfielder into an Attacking Midfielder – More presence in the final third without disrupting balance.
• Change Your Right-Back into a Wing-Back – Adds more attacking width while maintaining some defensive structure.
• Modify a Player Role Instead of Changing Formation – Shifting a Deep-Lying Playmaker to an Advanced Playmaker, for example, can push your midfield line higher without completely changing how your team operates.

The key is disrupting the AI without disrupting your own team.

Best Roles and Formations for a Comeback

Forwards:

• Poacher / Advanced Forward (Attack) – Stays high, looking for killer balls.
• Pressing Forward (Attack) – Harasses defenders, forces turnovers, and leads the press.

Midfield:

• Attacking Playmaker (Support/Attack) – The main creative outlet.
• Box-to-Box Midfielder (Support) – Late runs into the box add unpredictability.
• Mezzala (Attack) – If you have a good dribbler who can exploit space centrally.

Wingers:

• Inside Forward (Attack) – Cuts inside to create and score.
• Winger (Attack) – Keeps the width, stretches the defence, and delivers crosses.

Full-Backs:

• Wing-Back (Attack) – Pushes high, delivers crosses, and adds width.
• Inverted Wing-Back (Support/Attack) – Helps dominate the central areas.

Structural Adjustments:

• Switch to a 3-4-3 or 2-3-5 Shape – Sacrifice a defender for an extra attacker.
• Move a CB into DM or CM – Adds another body in attack without fully exposing yourself.

Final Throw of the Dice – 90+ Minutes

At this stage, it’s all about desperation. If all else fails, try these last-ditch tactics:

• Send CBs Forward – A tall defender as an emergency striker can create chaos.
• All Set Pieces to Target Man – Load the box and get the ball in there.
• Go Route One / Hit Early Crosses – Lump it forward and hope for a lucky break.

Final Thoughts

These are some of the best ways to engineer a comeback in Football Manager. Of course, sometimes it just won’t happen—the AI will cling on for dear life—but I guarantee I’ve scored more late goals than I’ve conceded using these adjustments.

Disagree with any of my tips? Have a better way to snatch a late equaliser? Let me know in the comments!