Solid Defence. (1 Viewer)

The annoying thing is, the defence is so solid and yet has let in some really daft soft goals.

Otis said:

The annoying thing is, the defence is so solid and yet has let in some really daft soft goals.

Click to expand...

Yes the defence is good but the two that sit in front of them are a big factor too. Get past them and teams are walking through on goal.

skylark37 said:

Trying to look at our strong defensive record as a positive. Have been looking in to how effective having one of the best defences in the league is in terms of finishing in the playoffs / getting promoted.

This article has some interesting stats. Wrong league and season I know but the graph showing points value of goals scored and conceded is interesting.

The Importance of Defence in Winning Promotion to the Premier League

Anyone found anything similar for league 2?

The final paragraph is quite telling. Written on the 23rd of August 2016 - at the end of the season Burton, Forest and Blackburn finished 20th, 21st & 22nd respectively.

Also looking at the final league 2 standings of last season - 2016–17 EFL League Two - Wikipedia
Looking at the final positions of Blackpool, Cambridge and Mansfield in particular in terms of not that many goals conceded.

We could well see a lot more 0-0s, 1-0 victories this season, and it might not be very entertaining but if we have the odd Luton away here and there might we be able to finish in the playoffs?

Click to expand...

I went swimming tonight and if that wasn't sad enough I was thinking about the Sky Blues as I struggled up and down the pool and was thinking something similar.
That as the pitches get heavier and the games come thick and fast we may have to rely and slugging games out and snatching the odd goal winner. This is when we will really benefit from our strong defence.
Losing Jones at this time of the year might not be as detrimental as we think - or perhaps I was just clutching at straws.

Only 6 goals in the first half. That stat needs to change

We are bound to have solid defence the way we set the team up with 2 defensive midfielders sitting in front of the back 4 I wonder how we managed the number of shots we have set up like this . I noticed on Sunday Man . City managed 336 passes in the second half .I wonder how many we manage in a whole game.

skylark37 said:

- we have yet to go a goal (or two) up and then go on to lose the game this season -

...I've probably gone and jinxed us now.

I just wonder if that happens in a game over the next couple of weeks. 2-0 up, lose 3-2 people will say 'oh same old city' but strangely it will feel more "like us"

Click to expand...

More than that, we haven't even conceded an equaliser in the league all season. When we go in front we stay there. It's getting there that's the issue

skylark37 said:

Stevenage away...

The last two games (Stevenage and Crawley) are the only two score draws all season thus far.

Click to expand...

Oh you're right of course, need to update my stats! Liked that one too. I'll have to find a new favourite

A look back at our goals conceded in the league.
V Newport, O'Brien mistake
Lost 0-1
V Yeovil O'Brien mistake
V Yeovil, strike from distance.
Lost 2-0
V Cambridge, Striker brushed off Willis
V Cambridge, Stokes beaten to cross
Lost 2-1
V Swindon, Mcdonald looped clearance
Won 1-2
V Accrington, standard worked goal.
Lost 1-0
V Forest Green, Burge mistake
Lost 0-1
V Mansfield, long range shot
Lost 0-1
V Lincoln, Willis lost striker
Won 1-2
V Stevenage, standard goal
Drew 1-1
V Crawley, standard goal.
Drew 1-1

Out of the 12 league goals we've conceded 3 we're from goalkeeping howlers, 4 goals could of been defended better and 5 goals were nicely taken goals.

We've conceded a goal in our last 4 league games with the last clean sheet at Luton and last home clean sheet v Colchester. We've conceded 4 at home and 8 away.

6 goals we've conceded in the first 45 and 6 in the second half.
2 in the 1st half at the and 2 in the second Half at the Ricoh
4 goals in the first half and 4 in the second half in away games.

Wow I am impressed Steve I cant even remember how the last goal was scored against us never mind all season

stevefloyd said:

Wow I am impressed Steve I cant even remember how the last goal was scored against us never mind all season

Click to expand...

Well 12 isn't so easy to forget unlike last season....

I did cross reference with the highlights to make sure I was in the correct season