Here’s the xG from the Newcastle game. The overarching message is that there were few chances, with O’Neill’s tactics working well to restrict Newcastle, who had their lowest home xG of the season despite being awarded a penalty. Previously it had been 1.98 vs Forest, 2.30 vs Man City and 4.17 vs Palace. There were only two chances rated above 1 in 10, which were both the goals – Billing’s clever diversion of the ball’s trajectory (rated 2 in 5) and Isak’s penalty (4 in 5). Despite Newcastle having the majority of the ball, they were largely smothered, with only two small chances created after the 80th minute. We did have a scary ‘moment’ in the 43rd minute with Joelinton hitting the inside of the post (with Neto doing very well to kick it away) and then saving from Joelinton and Fraser, but each shot was rated as a low probability (about 1 in 20).
We started with 4 at the back, but switched to 3, or 5, at half time. Unfortunately, I can only access average positions across the game. An interesting feature is that Zemura played almost as high up the pitch as Billing and was more advanced than Christie. This may have been to try and stifle the forward runs of Trippier, although this only partially worked with the England full-back being Newcastle’s main threat. Moore and Stephens came on late and I’ve missed them off the graphic.
Neto had the most touches, followed by Christie, then the back four. In the opposition half, Tavernier and then Zemura had the most touches, which was also the case for the final third.
No player made more than 30 passes, which was much less than at Forest. Of the starting 11, Solanke made the fewest with 8, although his work rate was excellent as normal. The completion rate was typically around 70%, although Cook and Tavernier broke 85%. In the opposition half it was largely Tavernier, Zemura and Christie, with the Scot at 90% completion.
Billing, Mepham and Solanke all have 5 duels, with varying levels of success. Solanke was normally competing with the giant, and physically aggressive, Burn, so it is unsurprising he only won 1.
For the second game running, Cook made most tackles (7) and was successful in 4. No-one else made more than 3 tackles, as Newcastle played the ball about a lot, without achieving much penetration.
Neto made a remarkable number of recoveries (18). Christie and Cook (both 8) were next followed by Billing (7). Senesi (7). Lerma and Mepham (both 5) made the most clearances as expected from the centre backs. The large number of recoveries from our keeper, together with the relatively low number of clearances and blocks may indicate that Newcastle was looking to create a very good chance, but repeatedly overhit, or misdirected through balls.
Travers has the lowest save percentage of any keeper in the league at 45%. Even marginally lower than the guy at Leicester who I’m not sure goalkeeper is even his natural position (around 47%.)
Conversely, Neto is in the top five goalkeepers in the top five European leagues for save percentage, at around 90%.
We are only one of two teams in the league to average less than ten shots a game along with Villa, our XG is comfortably the lowest in the league so far at 3.3. The next lowest is 5.3. – Join the conversation, click here.
