A few of our Patreon subscribers have asked where Lincoln City rank for some of this season’s stats, so we’ve used the international break to see how the Imps measure up defensively.
Let’s start with Wyscout numbers for expected goals against (xGA), which estimates how many goals we’d typically concede from the chances we’ve allowed.
Our total of 26.81 is the 11th-highest in the Championship, just above the league average of 26.21. We’ve actually conceded 26, so the goals we’ve let in are broadly in line with the chances we’ve given up.
It does suggest that while it feels like we’re under the cosh at times, we’re only middling for the chances we give up, which is decent.
| Rank | Team | Total xGA | Goals conceded | xGA per shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derby County | 33.33 | 30 | 0.147 |
| 2 | Bolton Wanderers | 32.22 | 29 | 0.163 |
| 3 | Burnley | 31.37 | 31 | 0.144 |
| 4 | Cardiff City | 31.09 | 27 | 0.148 |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 31.01 | 23 | 0.132 |
| 11 | Lincoln City | 26.81 | 26 | 0.119 |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 21.47 | 18 | 0.135 |
| 21 | Wrexham | 21.28 | 20 | 0.123 |
| 22 | Portsmouth | 19.03 | 18 | 0.121 |
| 23 | Middlesbrough | 18.85 | 19 | 0.122 |
| 24 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 16.64 | 18 | 0.121 |
That said, only four Championship sides face more than our 13.90 shots per 90, which means we’re giving up low quality chances, or defending quite well.
It’s more than two shots above the league average of 11.70, and leaves us in the top five (or bottom five, depending on how you look at it). The average shot against us is worth just 0.119 xG, the lowest figure in the division, which helps explain why we’re closer to mid-table for total xGA.
| Rank | Team | Shots against | Per 90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackburn Rovers | 235 | 14.57 |
| 2 | Preston North End | 233 | 14.41 |
| 3 | Charlton Athletic | 231 | 14.13 |
| 4 | Watford | 230 | 14.10 |
| 5 | Lincoln City | 225 | 13.90 |
| 20 | Swansea City | 158 | 9.67 |
| 21 | Middlesbrough | 155 | 9.64 |
| 22 | Portsmouth | 157 | 9.59 |
| 23 | West Ham United | 154 | 9.53 |
| 24 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 138 | 8.44 |
There’s plenty of defending going on before the opposition gets a shot away, too. We’ve made 749 interceptions at a rate of 46.27 per 90, the highest in the Championship.
Blackburn Rovers are just behind us on 45.62, with both clubs well above the league average of 38.90.
| Rank | Team | Interceptions | Per 90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln City | 749 | 46.27 |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 736 | 45.62 |
| 3 | Sheffield United | 717 | 43.99 |
| 4 | Stoke City | 701 | 43.15 |
| 5 | Preston North End | 692 | 42.80 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 549 | 34.01 |
| 21 | Cardiff City | 544 | 33.22 |
| 22 | Southampton | 534 | 32.78 |
| 23 | West Ham United | 522 | 32.31 |
| 24 | Middlesbrough | 518 | 32.22 |
When the opposition does get a shot away, we’re getting a body in the way regularly, which highlights our defensive resilience. We’ve blocked 86 shots at a rate of 5.31 per 90, well above the Championship average of 3.90.
Blackburn Rovers are the only side above us, with 5.89 blocks per 90, and they also face the most shots.
| Rank | Team | Total blocks | Per 90 | Blocked shots % | Blocked shots against % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackburn Rovers | 95 | 5.89 | 30.9% | 37.4% |
| 2 | Lincoln City | 86 | 5.31 | 37.5% | 36.9% |
| 3 | Watford | 84 | 5.15 | 33.3% | 35.2% |
| 4 | Preston North End | 83 | 5.13 | 43.6% | 34.3% |
| 5 | Southampton | 81 | 4.97 | 33.3% | 37.8% |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 47 | 2.87 | 35.7% | 31.2% |
| 21 | Norwich City | 46 | 2.85 | 27.1% | 28.7% |
| 22 | Middlesbrough | 45 | 2.80 | 34.8% | 31.6% |
| 23 | West Ham United | 45 | 2.79 | 29.8% | 31.2% |
| 24 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 38 | 2.32 | 29.7% | 31.2% |
We’re busy in the air as well, contesting 47.63 aerial duels per 90, the fourth-highest rate in the division.
We win 50.2% of them, just above the Championship average of 49.87%. Millwall contest almost exactly as many as us and win 56.3%, the best return among the five busiest sides.
| Rank | Team | Aerial duels | Per 90 | Success % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham City | 869 | 53.06 | 45.7% |
| 2 | Sheffield United | 786 | 48.22 | 47.7% |
| 3 | Millwall | 773 | 47.85 | 56.3% |
| 4 | Lincoln City | 771 | 47.63 | 50.2% |
| 5 | Charlton Athletic | 754 | 46.13 | 54.4% |
| 20 | Cardiff City | 486 | 29.67 | 49.2% |
| 21 | Southampton | 465 | 28.55 | 48.0% |
| 22 | West Bromwich Albion | 459 | 28.35 | 52.3% |
| 23 | Burnley | 444 | 27.28 | 42.6% |
| 24 | West Ham United | 427 | 26.43 | 51.1% |
Tomorrow, we’ll look at some attacking stats for you. I’m presenting these without any real comment, as numbers can be interpreted several ways. One way would be to say we’re defending well, but the eye-test brigade will say we’re making too many mistakes. Of course, the fact we’re getting blocks and interceptions in means we’re having to defend, but then, did anyone expect otherwise?
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