'I try and score every one' - free-kick king Twine

Bristol City's Scott Twine is English football's set-piece specialist

When Scott Twine stepped up to the edge of the penalty box to take a free-kick in the 12th minute of Bristol City's Championship win against Blackburn last weekend, there was an air of inevitability of where the ball was going to go.

The midfielder, positioned to the left of centre of the edge of the penalty area, took a couple of steps forward and with his right foot curled the ball over the four-player wall, past goalkeeper Aynsley Pears - who dived the correct way - and into the bottom-left corner.

It was Twine's second goal from a direct free-kick this season for the Robins - following one against QPR - and took his tally to 15, to make him the most prolific free-kick taker in the English Football League over the past five years.

"I am confident from that range [25 yards] it's something I've practiced for a few years now and I back myself every time there's a free-kick from that sort of range," Twine told BBC Radio Bristol.

"I try and score every one, they don't all go in, but hopefully I keep scoring more."

Scott Twine's goal from a direct free-kick against Blackburn was his 15th since 2019

Twine, 25, joined Bristol City on a permanent deal this summer from Burnley, having spent the second part of 2023-24 campaign on loan at Ashton Gate.

He began his career at Swindon Town, before moving to Newport County on loan and MK Dons permanently in 2021. He joined Burnley in 2023 and also had a spell on loan at Hull City in the first half of last season.

Since 2019-20 Twine has the best record of any player across the top four tiers of English football according to Opta, with his 15 direct free-kick goals from 118 free-kick shots having a conversion rate of 12.7%.

West Ham's James Ward-Prowse - often given the title of English football's top set-piece specialist - sits below Twine with 13 goals from 103 free-kick shots at 12.6%.

When looking at the Championship specifically, Twine's conversion rate is even higher.

Since 2013-14 he has scored six goals from 36 free-kick shots, at a conversion rate of 16.7% - the highest in the division.

It puts him level with former Charlton and Bournemouth striker Yann Kermorgant who scored five free-kicks from 30 shots.

"He's a phenomenal ball striker," said George Elek, of the Not The Top 20 podcast.

"His set-piece delivery and scoring ability is so good but he's a creative player - he's someone in open play who can unlock defences.

"I'd say it's no coincidence that Bristol City have found a way to break teams down with him in the side."

While Twine said his set-piece technique has changed over the years he doesn't religiously practice them now.

"I do practice it on the training ground, maybe not as much as I used to because I feel like I've got the technique now. I don't want to get into bad habits in a way, trying to change stuff," he added.

"I much prefer taking it on the pitch than in training because I like the game scenario of it. I feel like I also concentrate a bit more."

He does, however, take into account factors such as the positioning of the goalkeeper before he takes his shot.

"I just know when I'm going over the wall I trust myself to try and get it up," Twine said.

"A lot of my free-kicks don't go fully in the top corner, they sort of dip a little bit. I don't know if that helps or doesn't help the keeper to be honest.

"I just know I try and get it over the wall and let the ball come down, it might go in the middle, might go in the bottom, as long as it goes in."

Twine has also played for Swindon, MK Dons, Hull and Burnley before joining Bristol City

Twine however is more than just a set-piece specialist. His tally of goals this season is currently six for Bristol City in all competitions - four in open play - while he has three assists to his name.

He scored on his first appearance of the season in the 4-3 win against Millwall in August, but missed a number of games through October into November due to injury.

Since his return, the 25-year-old has started the past nine consecutive matches for the Robins who have moved up the table within three points of the top six.

Twine believes he is playing the best football of his career.

"I think so," he said. "The start of the season it was a bit tough because I got injured and I wasn't scoring enough and now I've started scoring a bit more - which I still want to add to to be honest - I'm still not scoring enough in my opinion or assisting enough.

"It's definitely going in the right direction and I hope in the next week weeks I can definitely add more goals."