Premier League: How Sheffield United Beat and Missed Expectations
To clear the air, in my rankings of the top clubs that beat expectations in the Premier League, Sheffield United finished seventh, just behind Arsenal and Tottenham.
The rankings were based on statistics that compared a club’s ability to convert goal opportunities into actual goals. To stop opponents from converting their scoring opportunities, and how many real points the club earned in comparison with what they were expected to have won.
The clubs ahead of the Blades in the rankings were better overall in those categories. One area where Wilder’s club far exceeded expectations has been on the defensive side of the pitch.
By exclusively utilizing a 3-5-2 formation to withstand the offensive pressure brought on by faster and more skilled Premier League competition, the goal was to keep their foes off the scoresheet.
The Blades have been excellent in achieving that goal. They are second and fifth in the Premier League in goals against and clean sheets, respectively. Sheffield is also sixth in the Top Flight in expected goals against (xGA).
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Sheffield is the best in the Premier League in defensive goal conversion rate with -11.88 as they have conceded only 25 goals with an xGA of 36.88.
Sheffield reached the top in this category as a result of strengths in four areas: clearances, applying pressure in the attacking third, quality tackling, and goalkeeping.
The Blades are fourth in the Top Flight in clearances. Defenders Chris Basham, John Egan, and Jack O’Connell are ranked sixth, seventh, and 11th in the league in clearances, respectively.
Sheffield is also ranked sixth in the Premier League in applying pressure in the attacking third. Forward Oliver McBurnie is 17th in the league in this category.
The club boasts three players who are excellent in taking on opposing players dribbling with the ball. George Baldock (eighth), O’Connell (21st), and Egan (28th) are near the top of the league in percentage of dribblers tackled.
United also has one of the Primer League’s best goalkeepers, Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson. The 22-year-old is tied for second in the league in clean sheets and fourth in save percentage.
The Blades defensive statistics make it clear that they are above average in the league at limiting their opponent’s goal opportunities and their ability to convert those chances into real goals.