Written by Matt Stevenson
Here’s the xG from the Man C game. Just looking at the xG values, particularly the Opta one, the Man C 1.95 AFCB 0.91 suggests that a 6-1 scoreline was harsh, although City were clinical and it was a bad day to play them. Coming up to the half hour mark the xG was very respectable: Man C 0.50 AFCB 0.00 – our value wasn’t good, but we had stopped City from creating much with a Haaland blocked shot rated 1 in 6 being the best effort. Then there was a 7-minute burst that killed the game. First Doku placed one in the corner (rated 1 in 10) then Silva scored after dazzling footwork from Doku (rated 1 in 8) and then irritatingly Doku sliced a shot (rated 1 in 33) wide only for it to hit Akanji and go in (rated 1 in 8 although I’m not sure how you rate attempts you don’t know about). The storm subsided until half time and with AFCB having two small chances the xG was Man C 1.01 and AFC 0.10. Not much happened in the next 15 minutes apart from a Solanke goal ruled out for offside. In the 63 minute Foden finished to make it 4-0 (rated 1 in 7). We got a goal though, a superb pass from Kelly out wide to Aarons who just beat the offside trap. He squared it to Sinisterra who also was just onside, who cut back onto his right foot and scored past two defenders diving in and Ederson (rated 1 in 3). There was still time for two more City goals and their best chance of the game. Silva beating the offside trap, going past Kelly and dinking it over Radu for 5-1 (rated 2 in 5) and Ake with a diving header for 6-1 that is only rated at 1 in 7 when it looked a much bigger chance. In added on time Kovacic had the chance of the match (rated 1 in 2) but hit it straight at Radu. At the end of the match the xG was Man C 2.40 AFCB 0.64 although Opta had it closer. At least we won’t have to go back to the Etihad in the league this season.
Man of the Match against Manchester City
Sinisterra
Solanke
Senesi
Someone that didn't start with an S
No one
The most notable thing for me on the average position was how wide Mepham (6) played. It looked like we intended to play a central three with Mepham, Zabarnyi (27) and Kelly (5) trying to push on Aarons (37) and Kerkez (3) as much as possible. The fact that Mepham was substituted at half time may be due to this not working (but could be injury) but Senesi (25) played as the left of the three with Kelly and Zarbanyi shuffling over. It is also interesting that Rothwell (8) who replaced the injured Scott (14) played much higher than Scott, with potentially Philip (29) sitting deeper – it was hard to tell from my position. Four of the substitutes were in the highest six positional wise with Kluivert (19), a late sub for Solanke (9), highest.
We had 13 touches in the opposition’s penalty area, Christie having 4 of these with the rest spread through the team.
Our players tried to take on a man only 5 times (the average has been over 20 times), being successful once through Rothwell.
We had 5 attempts (1 big) noting that chances can be provided after saves, deflections or a defensive error and not created. We hit the target once although Solanke was unlucky as a tough effort thudded back off the woodwork. Man C had 21 attempts, 3 big, and hit the target 8 times.
AFCB won 7 out of 16 tackles which is again a low number showing Man City’s ability to keep the ball safe. Senesi won 2 out of 2 and Christie 2 out of 3.
According to Opta AFCB made no errors that led to a chance (and therefore, by extension a goal).
Solanke had the highest xG (0.59) Sinisterra had 0.28; no-one else was above 0.05. Aarons and Senesi had the highest xGA at 0.36 and 0.24 respectively.
