10th Apr 2013 | Football
Pardew-Time
No team has scored more stoppage-time goals than Newcastle this season; if it wasn’t for their late goals they’d be even deeper in the mire.
The northeast derby between Newcastle and Sunderland takes on epic proportions this weekend with both teams sat in the wrong half of the table. The bookmakers make Newcastle favourites at 20/21 (Boylesports), but the five points that separates the teams doesn’t tell the whole story.
Stoppage Time Goals
Alan Pardew’s men have developed the happy knack of scoring goals in stoppage-time, their tally of six is the best in the league and represents 14.29% of all their goals scored. In their last eight games, injury-time goals have gained Newcastle an extra six points, without them they would be below Sunderland in the table.
You could argue this statistic is indicative of the team spirit at Newcastle or tactical genius on the part of Alan Pardew. Whatever the reason, they are deviating away from the mean and that is dangerous because it is unlikely to go on forever.
Alternative Form Table
Using the criteria set out in our ‘Shots On Target’ feature, each week we analyse the recent set of Premier League fixtures to see if the scorelines were a fair reflection of the games.
Sunderland must be wishing for just a fraction of the good fortune bestowed upon their local rivals. Three points from eight games is a paltry return, but the statistics suggest their performances merited six more points.
It is 7/2 (Bet365) their luck turns on Sunday and Paulo Di Canio celebrates his first victory as manager.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 19:55 10th Apr, 2013 but subject to change
