The days when randomness affected decisions, or when managers had an inkling that their striker would win for them are gradually being consigned to the past.

Nothing changed for the 2021-22 season, although five substitutes are allowed in FA Cup matches, and in October football law-makers the International Football Association Board recommended that five substitutions be implemented permanently in the sport. Scotland were the opponents for the first ever use of a substitute in international football, when Wales' original goalkeeper failed to arrive in 1889. So what impact has five substitutes had on Scottish football - and the destination of silverware and relegation disappointment?While other countries introduced substitutions in their domestic leagues in the 1950s, the FA dragged their heels, to the serious detriment of some clubs and players. Roy Dwight – who is perhaps better known as Elton John’s cousin – opened the scoring for Nottingham Forest against Luton in the 1959 FA Cup final before breaking his leg in the 33rd minute. Forest were 2-0 up when Dwight went off and they just about held on, winning the final 2-1. Substitutions during matches were not added to the Laws of the Game until 1958, but the number permitted steadily increased until three became the norm from 1995 onwards. The referees and the assistant referees are still responsible for the decision on the field of play. Friday's Championship fixture between Coventry and Birmingham will be the first match under the new rules. However, Rangers also finished second behind their city rivals the previous season despite their substitutes having the greatest impact with 15 goals overall (19%) ahead of Celtic. Eight goals off the bench for Ange Postecoglou's side was a mere 9% of their total and only the seventh most potent in the division.

Against Spurs, Dzeko came off the bench to win the game for City with a key pass and a goal in the 17 minutes he was on the field. The Bosnia striker has more goals than Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez this season and yet both have more starts. But in the three league matches Dzeko has started, he has scored just one goal and City have won only one of those matches.

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Substitutes in association football have been around since the nineteenth century - but only initially for players who failed to turn up! During United's 3-2 victory over Aston Villa, Hernandez came on at half-time, shortly before his side went 2-0 down. In the 40 minutes that followed, the striker they call Chicharito had three shots at goal and all three led to goals that turned around a lost match.