Swansea City – the most fouled side in the Championship

It may not be a statistic that you set out to achieve at the start of a season but as the Championship closes it on its halfway stage this season the Swans find themselves top of not just one but two rankings as far as fouls are concerned.

They currently hold – by a reasonable distance the title of the most fouled team in the division with 267 fouls drawn so far this season – Saturday’s opponents Middlesbrough are the next nearest with 246 with Reading – last Saturday’s opponents further back again at 237.

It is probably down to the patient and intricate passing of Russell Martin’s side that these fouls are drawn with opponents frustrated by the lack of possession but also often just a fraction late due to a quick pass meaning a niggling foul is made.

In contrast we have also conceded the least fouls of any other side in the division with just 177 committed – two less than Bristol City in 2nd with Peterborough back in 3rd with 193.

Looking at individuals within our team, Ryan Manning and Ethan Laird have been fouled 95 times between them (51 and 44 respectively) with Jamie Paterson (31) in 3rd and only Matt Grimes (26) and Flynn Downes (21) over 20 fouls. Manning’s total is 2nd in the division only behind Callum O’Hare at Coventry who has been fouled 53 times

Manning has also conceded the most fouls in the team with 23 followed by Downes (15) and Laird (14).   Ryan Bennett, who has six yellow cards to his name this season, has achieved that stat from just 9 fouls – read into that bit what you want.

In some other stats just to keep the mind ticking as we contemplate a rare week without a game

Frustratingly though there are some statistics that clearly we would like to improve.    The Swans have managed just 196 shots at goal this season – only Peterborough (171) have less although our on target percentage of 37% is one of the highest in the league (Blackburn lead the way at 42%)

In terms of corner kicks – our tally of 236 is the lowest in the division – 10 behind Derby and 23 behind Blackburn as the next two lowest and we are one of only four sides not to be awarded a penalty this season (not for the want of trying of course!)

Despite some of our defensive strength we have had more shots against us than we have made and the % of those shots against (43%) is the highest percentage against any team in the division.

Not surprisingly when you take shooting stats down to an individual player then Joel Piroe (45) has more shots than anyone else in the squad with Paterson (24), Ntcham (23) and Grimes (20) the only other players managing an average of a shot a game.  Piroe’s tally of shots is enough to give him a top 10 place in the division but some way behind the predictable leaders of Aleksandar Mitrović (80) and Dominic Solanke (65).

Stats are of course just a part of the game but based on these I think very reflective of a Swans side that we have seen so far this season.  Comfortable in possession, likely to draw fouls, maybe (more than) a little shot shy but still competing in the areas that matters.

Lies, damned lies and statistics?  Probably.