Stoke City had a decent start to the 2021-22 EFL Championship season and were looking like one of the contenders to fight for a top-six or even a top-two place. Recently though, they have gone on a losing streak, having lost their last three league games to Sheffield United, AFC Bournemouth and Millwall. The losses have kept them on 21 points from 14 games now, as they are level on points with six other teams, as the teams all through fifth place and the eleventh place have 21 points each. On goal difference, Stoke City are currently ninth in the standings. In this post, we will look at the stats for Stoke City in their recent drop in form.
Stoke City have been impressive going forward in the Championship and have recorded the seventh-highest xG in the division of 21.29, as they have underachieved this xG, only scoring 17 goals in their 14 games. In their last three games, they have suffered continuous defeats and have only managed to score two goals. In the first nine games of the season, Nick Powell was their top scorer with five goals. He suffered a leg injury, and the Potters have found it difficult to score goals in his absence.
The xGA is the expected goals against stat for the teams, as can be seen in the above viz. The Potters have recorded an xGA of 18.41 and have conceded 16 goals in their 14 league games so far this season. They had conceded 11 goals in the first 11 games, before the three consecutive defeats, in which they went on and conceded an additional five goals.
Stoke City have taken a total of 156 shots in their 14 Championship games, and have hit the target the sixth-highest times with 61 and have managed to score 17 goals. Stoke City have tried to be more clinical in front of goal, as they aim to qualify for the playoffs and gain promotion to the Premier League this season. Their recent drop in form has taken them out of the top six, but only on goal difference. They will hope to come back stronger and get back to winning ways as soon as possible.
The Potters have also recorded the sixth-highest number of passes in the entire division, Which means that they have been able to keep the ball possession with them throughout most games, and have been building up their attacks from the back.
Nick Powell, who is their current top scorer in the league, with five goals in the first nine games, suffered a leg injury and was ruled out of the squad till the month of December. the injury to Nick Powell has coincided with the poor form shown by Stoke City. The above viz is Stoke city’s shot map in their latest defeat in GW 14 against Millwall. They have not been able to find a real presence near the opposition’s box, and have had limited chances. Their manager and the team will have to find alternate ways to score goals in the absence of Powell if they want to continue their challenge for one of the top-six spots in the Championship.
