Statistics, they’re a funny old thing.
There’s only really two outcomes when someone produces them at the end of the game.
If a team wins and the stats are in their favour, you can point to them and show ‘look how much they dominated the other side’. If a team wins and the stats show that they were in fact the second-best team on the park that day, then all you need to say is ‘the only stat that matters is on the scoreboard’. So they can matter as much or as little as you want them to, depending on your mood.
In what is a new phenomenon this season for Leeds, in the league anyway, is finding themselves on the wrong end of the latter statement.
The ever-reliable @LUFCDATA produced these statistics to show just how dominant Marcelo Bielsa’s men were on Saturday, however a late goal by Wayne Routledge saw the visitors take all three points.
Leeds 0-1 Swansea STATS:
xG: 1.96-0.46
Shots: 21-7
On-Target: 3-2
Possession: 62%-38%
Success Passes: 442-226
Pass Acc: 85%-70%
Final Third Passes: 123-53
Chances: 13-2
Crosses: 5/29-1/11
Take-Ons: 12-17
Recoveries: 66-54
Tackles Won: 29-18
Interceptions: 18-3Smash and grab.????
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) September 1, 2019
So how did Leeds United fans react when they saw these figures?
Well it seemed as if their conversion rate was what was worrying a lot of the Elland Road faithful. The hosts had 21 shots in total and created 13 chances, but when you only manage to get three shots on target, you really should be looking at yourself in the mirror.
Those shots on targets need to be better ! Let’s go Leeds. Continue those wins we are getting and we we will smash the league. Swansea match was lucky on their behalf. We will smash them 2020.
— LEEDS ARE GOING UP (@ihelpcp1) September 2, 2019
21 shots & only 3 on target isn't smash & grab us it ?? .. More like sort your own house out. Appalling conversion rate that that cost us last season
— Winks ???????? (@Winks_1) September 1, 2019
The on targets is what matters most
— LUFCMUNN (@brownmackers) September 1, 2019
Nope. We had 3 shots on target and they had 2. Not a smash and grab at all. Leeds are a boxer with all the techniques but has feather fists. Never gonna knock anyone out hence we didn’t go up last year. Swansea won 6-0 the other week. Have we scored 5 in one game under Bielsa?
— Marcelo B’s LUFC (@BillyKeville) September 1, 2019
3 shots on target for that dominance is awful, we can't sustain this again all season, think the midfield needs a change hopefully Roberts comes back soon and he can be the link we need, plus it would allow Klich to play like he was last season, missing his goals at the moment
— Royce Dunston (@roycedun) September 1, 2019
Stats that stand out for me are I) shot conversion and ii) successful crosses. The team play fantastic football, work hard, create spaces, but the dominance means little if we can't convert into real chances and goals.
— paulfranklin (@PaulFranklin) September 1, 2019
Shots LUFC 21 to SCFC
Shots on target LUFC 3 to SCFC 2
21 shots only 3 on target this for me is the biggest issue IMO we dont shoot enough or early enough in moves— Mike Kirby (@mkirby311) September 1, 2019
The 21 shots to 3 on target is worrying.
— Chris Delaney (@ChrisGoEco) September 1, 2019