Stats 23/24

Here is the xG timeline for the Villa game. The opening stages were cagey with the first real chance to Diaby on the 22nd minute (1 in 5) who shot wide. Immediately Bournemouth responded with a chance for Ouattara at the far post (1 in 6). There were no more chances until AFCB took the lead, with Kerkez clearly brought down allowing Solanke to strike it home (almost 4 in 5). We were seeing out the first half relatively comfortable until additional time when Villa broke with speed after Christie was dispossessed at the edge of the Villa box and with Smith caught forward. It was still a very good Villa move and finish from Rogers (1 in 5). At half time the xG was A Villa 0.61, AFCB 1.12. The second half started cautiously, until Villa went 2-1 up, it was another well worked counter attach, leaving Diaby one on one to slot home (3 in 5). There was another period of inactivity with the only notable chance being a Ouattara header saved by Martinez (1 in 10) until Villa went 3-1 up. Watkins broke the offside trap, went round Neto and squared it for Bailey to have a tap in (rated 99%!). After this Villa sat back, with two chances falling to Unal in additional time (one 1 in 4 and 1 in 6). The final xG was A Villa 2.51, AFCB 1.77. Understat had it closer, but also thought A Villa had the higher value (2.63 vs 2.05).

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The average positions are below. Kerkez (3) started as left wing / midfield in front of Kelly (5). Apart from this, the team was largely as normal with Semenyo (24) not deemed fit to start and Ouattara (11) playing right wing / midfield. As usual, Kluivert (19) played high with Solanke (9). The first sub was Aarons (37) coming on for Smith (15) as a like for like swap with Smith already booked. On the 63rd minute, with AFCB 2-1 down, Semenyo came on for Senesi (25) (who had also been booked) with Kelly switching to the centre, and Kerkez dropping to left back. Semenyo’s central average position, may be because he switched flanks. On 76 minutes, Philip (29) replaced Kluivert, and Scott (14) replaced Christie (10). Villa made it 3-1 shortly after, prompting a final substitution with Unal (26) replacing Ouattara and playing very high as Villa sat back.

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Kelly had most touches in total (61) slightly ahead of Zabarnyi (58) and Cook (57). Kerkez had the highest number of touches in the opposition half (32) and in the final third with 24.

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AFCB had 23 touches in the opposition’s penalty area. Solanke had the most (6) followed by Kluivert with 5.

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Kelly attempted most passes with 52 and attempted most in the opposition’s half (19) whilst Kerkez had most in the final third with 12. We averaged 83% completion with Christie, Kelly and Zabarnyi all having values over 90%.

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AFCB attempted 12 crosses, being successful with 4, from 4 different players. Kerkez will be disappointed with no successes from four attempts.

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Our players tried to take on a man 16 times being successful 8 times. Christie had most successes, 3 from 4 attempts.

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AFCB created 11 chances (2 big). Christie set up 5 of the chances. A Villa created 13 chances, four of which were big.

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We had 14 attempts (4 big) noting that chances can be provided after saves, deflections or a defensive error and not created. We hit the target five times. Six players had 2 attempts each. A Villa had 15 attempts, 4 big, and hit the target 5 times.

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AFCB won 6 of 12 aerials duals. Solanke won 2 out of 2. This was the second lowest number of duels this season after Man City away as Villa kept the ball on the ground.

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AFCB won 12 of 18 tackles. Zabarnyi won 4 from 5.

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Cook made most defensive actions with 16. He made most interceptions (3) and recoveries (11). Zabarnyi made most clearances (4) and blocks (2).

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According to Opta, AFCB made no errors leading to a chance.

The foul count was AFCB 14, A Villa 7. Kerkez made most fouls (3). Solanke was fouled twice.

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The Opta expected goals had Solanke (0.85) as most likely to score primarily due to the penalty (0.79) with Unai and Ouattara being above 0.10. For assists, Christie (0.14) was top, followed by Scott at 0.11.

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The sixth and final Block of matches is off to a rough start, but we are still seven points to the good. I still think we can gather a few more.
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Not a bad xG figure, more in line with our good run in the middle part of the season:
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The xGA figure is more inline with our rough start to the season, but not an outlier by any means:
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I like those, one point though, just like you wouldn’t drop the United when referring to Manchester United you shouldn’t when referring to Sheffield United.

Sheffield Wednesday are, to coin a phrase, a massive club, arguably bigger than Sheffield United despite their absence from the top flight for numerous years.
 
DJ said:
I like those, one point though, just like you wouldn’t drop the United when referring to Manchester United you shouldn’t when referring to Sheffield United.

Sheffield Wednesday are, to coin a phrase, a massive club, arguably bigger than Sheffield United despite their absence from the top flight for numerous years.
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I take your point, but I just used the names from the source without giving it too much thought. I did notice that they didn't use the common nickname "Wolves", but contracted "Nottingham".
 
Here is the xG timeline for the Wolves game. AFCB started brightly with two 1 in 10 efforts from Senesi and Solanke and a 1 in 12 from Kluivert in the first 10 minutes. Wolves had one spell where Travers saved well from Sarabia (1 in 15) and Hee-Chan had a header from the resulting corner (1 in 11) but that was their sole attempts in the first 30 minutes. AFCB kept pressing and had good attempts from Kerkez (1 in 8) and Kluivert (28%) before Semenyo scored. A cross from Kerkez was poorly cleared and Semenyo reacted quickest (18%). That was largely it for the first half and at the break the xG was Wolves 0.24, AFCB 1.12. The second half started cautiously, until Kluivert was through but couldn’t beat Sa (nearly 2 in 5). AFCB maintained the pressure and Senesi had another good chance (1 in 6) to double the lead. From nowhere it looked as though Wolves had equalised with a Hee-Chan header, the goal was chalked off for a foul in the build up on Kluivert. It was a foul, but there would be many AFCB fans who would not have been happy if this was the other way. From the moment the crowd seemed to be more hostile and Bournemouth didn’t have another chance. Wolves were pushing for an equaliser, but had not troubled Travers, although the situation became more favourable when Kerkez was sent off in the 79th minute for an over aggressive tackle. Wolves were now dominant and in the late stages of 10 minutes injury time had a goal ruled out for offside that was closer than it originally looked. The cherries held on though and the final xG was Wolves 0.56, AFCB 1.96. Understat had it more in our favour, at 0.48 vs 2.40.

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The main surprise was that Travers was played instead of Neto, and Iraola switching Kluivert to the left wing with Scott coming into the 10 role. The average positions are below. The team positioning was very high with the fuill backs Smith (15) and Kerkez (3) higher than the two midfielders, Cook (4) and Christie (10). Scott (14) was more advanced than the wide men Kluivert (19) and Semenyo (24) and played close to Solanke (9). The first sub (74 minutes) was Ouattara (11) replacing Kluivert but from his average position the game was beginning to turn. Just after Kerkez’s red card, Kelly (5) replaced Scott, playing in the defence with Ouattara also providing cover at left back. In the 87th minute Senesi (25) was replaced by Hill (23) and Uanl (26) replaced Solanke. The average position of the four subs showed that we were soaking up pressure.

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