The EFL Championship is not only about getting promoted to the English Premier League. There are a lot of other elements in the game like survival in the second division and more. The top six teams compete for a place in the top division and the bottom three teams have the fear of getting relegated to the third division.
In the current season, several teams are competing to raise their level and a few are competing for their survival. There is only a six-point gap between the team sitting 12th and 23rd in the league standings. Newcomers Sheffield Wednesday are also a team competing to stay in the league. They are sitting 23rd in the table and can escape this relegation loop.
Sheffield United are in great form in the last five games. They have won four of the last five league games. The reason behind this run is the form of their Canadian forward. Ike Ugbo, who is currently on loan from French side Troyes is in the form of his life. The former Chelsea youngster is scoring goals strengthening his position in the squad. With the relegation battle getting tighter day by day, here is a look at some of the stats that show how Ugbo has been the key source on the route to survival.
Six games, six goals
Ike Ugbo made a great start to the 2023-24 campaign. He scored three goals in August and was being listed as one of the best buys of the summer. This was followed by a three-month goal drought. After scoring his fourth of the season, Ugbo added another goal after almost two and a half months.
In the last six games, the youngster has been a menace in and around the penalty box. Most of his touches inside the box have been around the six-yard box.
In these six matches, the youngster has scored six goals. From his 15 shot attempts, eight were on target. The above shot map shows how this Canadian forward found space inside the six-yard box to score a goal. This also led to a high xG rate per shot.
Overall, Ugbo has taken 27 shot attempts and 52% of these have been on target. Ugbo’s high xG rate makes him a threat against any team.
This plot assesses the striker’s ability to challenge and win aerial duels, which is essential for hold-up play and scoring from headers. The 25-year-old is a threat inside the opposition penalty box and converts the chances around the six-yard box.
Ball recovery becomes important for a player featuring for a struggling team. Ike Ugbo has made some crucial dangerous recoveries in the final third.
Sheffield Wednesday will expect more from their Canadian forward in the remaining games. He will aim to score goals and ensure safety for his team.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
