Opta graphic reveals shocking true extent of Sunderland underperformance this season
A revealing graphic from Opta has shown Sunderland to be one of the biggest underperforming teams in the Championship this season.
Sunderland are currently tenth position in the Championship, seven points adrift of the play-off positions after the disastrous experiment with Michael Beale.
However, according to an Opta game-outcome model based on expected goals (xG), they should be quite comfortably nestled into fifth position in the Championship.
That five places of underperformance is the joint third worst in the whole division, with only Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday (both seven places) above them in the table of shame.
The results of the Opta model will almost certainly bring the conversation back to Sunderland’s inability to sign a senior striker this season.
Despite months of looking, sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and his recruitment team were only able to sign inexperienced centre forwards last summer and then failed to rectify that mistake in January.
The data certainly suggests that even had Sunderland been as clinical in front of goal as you would expect, never mind actually performed well, they would be right among the play-offs pack heading into the final 13 games of what has ultimately been a disappointing campaign.
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