However, for all their possession, it was Chelsea rather than the visitors who appeared to lack verve and spark in the attacking third.

BBC: Chelsea 0-0 Everton

Specifically, England's passing has been poorest in the attacking third of the field, where its strikers have made a succession of misplaced passes.

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St Mirren improved as the first half continued, with Mark Corcoran becoming influential in the attacking third and he sent a speculative effort narrowly over the bar.

BBC: St Mirren 0-3 Dundee United

Their defenders are steady, placing a priority on holding their line, while their attacks usually favor direct passes into the attacking third over the kind of possession-heavy, short touch-passing that Barcelona has made fashionable.

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One solution is to let third-party organizations do the attacking.

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The world number 35, who knocked out ninth seed James Blake in the third round, pressured Monfils from the start by attacking whenever possible.

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Johnson's jumper gave Brooklyn a 55-53 lead with 9:18 remaining in the third quarter, but the Heat overwhelmed with an awesome display of attacking over the next few minutes.

WSJ: Heat blow out Nets in 2nd half, win 105-85

Flanagan added a third on 65 minutes before Robin Sowden-Taylor's try from a flowing counter-attacking move made the game safe five minutes from time.

BBC: Bath 6-14 Blues

But it would have been a harsh result given Australia's far greater attacking threat with the ball in hand and in the end the hosts had just enough in reserve to clinch their third win in a row against England.

BBC: Australia 27-17 England