Neil Harris has revealed that Lee Tomlin wasn't even in the squad just hours before he curled home the match-winning free-kick against West Brom.
The playmaker was absent from City's 1-1 draw against Reading in the FA Cup last weekend, but many thought it was simply precautionary and he would slot straight back into the side for the visit of the Baggies.
However, a few eyebrows were raised when the teams were announced and Tomlin was named on the bench for the Cardiff City Stadium clash.
He was introduced on the hour and turned the game on its head. The stadium rose to its feet whenever he touched the ball and he ultimately earned the free-kick and slotted it home to give City an unassailable 2-1 lead.
But it all could have been so different.
Harris said that on the morning of the game, Tomlin wasn't in the squad as he hadn't trained at all in the build-up to the game. But the City boss was certainly glad he made the late call to include him in the match-day 18.
"Lee hasn't trained for four days, he wasn't in the squad at all until this morning," he explained after the match.
"He wasn’t in the training group, he’s been carrying a knock that we’ve nursed him through.
"We keep getting (FA Cup) replays which makes it difficult!
"He wasn’t in the group yesterday and trained on his own. We are a bit light in numbers but he put himself forward, but it was a risk to go with him.
"Sometimes, though, you have to take a risk."
There are very few in this Cardiff City squad who could have executed that free-kick as expertly as Tomlin did.
The deftness of touch and the pinpoint accuracy was a wonderful sight for the 20,000-plus City fans packed inside the stadium.
But when it comes down to big moments in big games, Tomlin has invariably stepped up and provided the goods and Tuesday night was no different.
"To get the ball up and down, that was his range," Harris said of Tomlin's decisive free-kick.
"We have seen that before this season, like against Sheffield Wednesday. But we also have Will Vaulks standing there also, who can hit a ball.
"We have quality in those areas of the pitch. But sometimes as a player you just know, you just feel that it’s there. He had that feeling."
When the final whistle blew, the whole stadium seemed to have that feeling.
