Peterborough United currently occupy one of the three relegation spots in the 2021-22 EFL Championship. Were it not for Derby County’s 21 point deduction due to entering administration, the Posh would be rock bottom. So what has gone wrong at Peterborough United this season? For a start, they have netted only 32 goals until this point in the season. But it is in defense that they are suffering. They have shipped 76 goals in 38 games, exactly two goals a game.
Peterborough United have the second-most expected goals against (xGA 67) of any team this season in the EFL Championship. Yet, they have conceded nine more goals than expected. Peterborough have kept the joint fewest clean sheets in the league this season – four. They have allowed the second-most shots on target this season, behind only Reading. The Peterborough goalkeepers have a save percentage of just 59.9%. All this does not look good for the Posh if they are to survive somehow.
Given above is the defensive performance benchmarking of the EFL Championship, with Peterborough United being highlighted. At just 18.8%, Peterborough United have the second-lowest defensive duels success rate this season. Only Huddersfield Town have a lower success rate in this category. Aerially, Peterborough seem to be struggling as well, as they have won only 44.3% of their aerial duels, the second-lowest. In addition to this, Peterborough have made the fourth-fewest recoveries and the third-fewest recoveries in the opposition’s half this season.
Peterborough are not just struggling at the back but also while going forward. Firstly, they take just 7.58 shots per game which is woefully low for any team. They have scored only 0.73 goals per game until now, and this is an underperformance on their xG output, which stands at 0.86. Just like their underachievement on xG, Peterborough seem to be underperforming on their xA as well. They have generated 0.34 assists per game when they should have created 0.45 assists per game. They have managed to create just 1.65 key passes up until this point in the season. They need to step up creating a lot more chances this season.
Peterborough United look destined to go straight back down to EFL League One after just one season in the English second tier. If Peterborough United are to hope for a miracle, they need to start firing on all cylinders quickly.
