Analysis: Evidence that Sunderland are performing far better this season than last

Evidence that Sunderland are performing far better this season than last.

SAFC Data Analytics | Sep 6, 2023

Analysis: Evidence that Sunderland are performing far better this season than last /

Underlying numbers are a very modern way of looking at football matches. The notion that only the result matters almost feels outdated.

The new approach to looking at metrics that were unable to be provided as evidence in the past is a fantastic way of judging how a team is truly performing.

Below is evidence from this season and last season. The data on the left shows the numbers Sunderland are and were achieving for each metric. The data on the right shows where we rank and ranked for each metric.

Data taken from Wyscout. — Data taken from Wyscout

Of the 28 metrics studied, Sunderland were only performing better in 4 of them during the 2022/2023 campaign that saw them finish 6th and achiev play-off status. The 4 being; points, shot on target %, aerial duel success % and challenge intensity which is a team metric, quantifying how many defensive actions (defensive duels, loose ball duels, interceptions, tackles) a team is doing per minute of opponent ball possession.

So overall the data shows that Sunderland are scoring more goals, having better chances, having more possession, putting in more crosses, conceding less goals, conceding less chances, having more touches in the box, getting the ball into the final 3rd more and running forward with the ball more than last season.

When you look at league rankings, Sunderland are the best in the league for xG against, xG per shot against and 1v1 dribbling. There’s also 18 metrics that Sunderland find themselves in the top six for which is very encouraging for a side hoping to achieve a playoff place again.

Overall, the slow start which had fans sweating wasn’t a cause for concern at all. The results were always going to come. Sometimes fans just have to accept that the table can lie but as the season goes on we’ll get stronger and cement ourself higher up the league based on underlying numbers which have shown to reflect favourably when it comes to the league table.

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