Digressive Celts

Matches › 2020/21

Aberdeen 2–0 Motherwell

Saturday 23 January 2021, 15:00 · Pittodrie Stadium · Round 25 · Half-time 1–0

Aberdeen Hoban 15', Considine 77'

Motherwell Polworth sent off 48'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

AberdeenMotherwell
Goals20
xG3.100.47
Expected Points2.830.11

Aberdeen 92%Draw 6%Motherwell 1%

Most likely score 3–0, 18%. Final score 2–0, 14%.

Motherwell goalsAberdeen goals0123456+0123456+1%6%3%7%2%9%2%7%1%6%3%3%1%14%18%13%Final score

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

012340153045607590HTPolworth (Motherwell), red card 48'Campbell on for Ojo, 72'McLennan on for Wright, 79'Virtanen on for Kennedy and Main on for Cosgrove, 87'Leigh on for Hayes, 88'Long on for Seedorf, 46'Smith on for Watt, 56'McGinley on for Carroll and Hastie on for Cole, 83'Maguire on for Crawford, 88'Hoban 15'Considine 77'Aberdeen 3.10Motherwell 0.47012340153045607590HTPolworth (Motherwell), red card 48'Campbell on for Ojo, 72'McLennan on for Wright, 79'Virtanen on for Kennedy and Main on for Cosgrove, 87'Leigh on for Hayes, 88'Long on for Seedorf, 46'Smith on for Watt, 56'McGinley on for Carroll and Hastie on for Cole, 83'Maguire on for Crawford, 88'Hoban 15'Considine 77'3.100.47AberdeenMotherwell

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

AberdeenMotherwell

3.10 +1.85xG0.47 −0.66
4.54 +3.28xG on target0.34 −0.61
26 +15Shots6 −5
8 +4.4Shots on target3 −0.1
4 +2.5Big chances0 −1.4
41 +21Touches in the opposition box12 −8
62% +12Possession38% −9
481 +80Passes310 −43
80% +8Pass accuracy70% 0
79% +29Field tilt21% −17
51 +15Final-third entries28 −4
29 +19.3Box entries6 −4.1
10.4 −4Passes per defensive action17.3 +3
8 +3.4Corners1 −4.0
14 +2Tackles8 −6
5 −6Interceptions13 +2
11 −9Clearances19 −3
3 +1.0Saves6 +3.5
11 −4Fouls11 −1
2 +0.4Offsides4 +2.0

The small figure beside each value is its difference from the side's average per league match this season before this one. Field tilt is each side's share of the open-play passes completed in the final third; entries are completed open-play passes and carries into the final third and the box; passes per defensive action (PPDA) counts the opponent's passes in its own 60% of the pitch for each tackle, interception, challenge, or foul there.

Chance locations

Aberdeen

Wright 59', 0.53 xGCosgrove 79', 0.36 xGFerguson 46', 0.14 xGFerguson 61', 0.12 xGCosgrove 83', 0.07 xGCosgrove 4', 0.06 xGOjo 46', 0.06 xGTaylor 68', 0.06 xGHedges 83', 0.06 xGHedges 67', 0.05 xGHedges 13', 0.04 xGHedges 17', 0.04 xGKennedy 40', 0.04 xGHedges 57', 0.04 xGHedges 74', 0.04 xGMcLennan 83', 0.04 xGMain 89', 0.04 xGFerguson 32', 0.03 xGWright 38', 0.03 xGKennedy 65', 0.03 xGKennedy 76', 0.03 xGFerguson 77', 0.03 xGKennedy 85', 0.03 xGFerguson 90', 0.03 xGConsidine 77', 0.77 xG, goalHoban 15', 0.33 xG, goal28%0.88 xGSix-yard box: 2 shots, 0.88 xG, 1 goal54%1.67 xGCentral box: 9 shots, 1.67 xG, 1 goal3%0.10 xGWide in the box: 2 shots, 0.10 xG, 0 goals14%0.42 xGEdge of the box: 12 shots, 0.42 xG, 0 goals1%0.03 xGFurther out: 1 shot, 0.03 xG, 0 goals

Motherwell

Seedorf 20', 0.13 xGCole 71', 0.10 xGCole 43', 0.07 xGWatt 23', 0.06 xGWatt 20', 0.05 xGCarroll 44', 0.05 xG0%0.00 xGSix-yard box: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals66%0.31 xGCentral box: 3 shots, 0.31 xG, 0 goals21%0.10 xGWide in the box: 2 shots, 0.10 xG, 0 goals13%0.06 xGEdge of the box: 1 shot, 0.06 xG, 0 goals0%0.00 xGFurther out: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

AberdeenMotherwell

0.98 19 shots, 0 goalsOpen play0.40 5 shots, 0 goals
0.89 2 shots, 0 goalsCounter-attacks0.06 1 shot, 0 goals
1.23 5 shots, 2 goalsSet pieces0.00 0 shots, 0 goals

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

Level
15 min (17%) · Aberdeen 0.43, Motherwell 0.00 xG
Aberdeen ahead
75 min (83%) · Aberdeen 2.67, Motherwell 0.47 xG

Line-ups

131441119817253316LewisHobanTaylorConsidineHedgesFergusonOjoHayesWrightKennedyCosgroveGoalGoalYellow cardYellow card72'88'79'87'87'Aberdeen 3-4-2-1Derek McInnes1333163136819174432KellyO'DonnellMugabiGallagherCarrollCampbellCrawfordPolworthSeedorfColeWattYellow cardYellow cardSent off83'88'46'83'56'Motherwell 4-3-3Graham Alexander

Aberdeen substitutes

  • 72' Campbell for Ojo
  • 79' McLennan for Wright
  • 87' Virtanen for Kennedy
  • 87' Main for Cosgrove
  • 88' Leigh for Hayes

Motherwell substitutes

  • 46' Long for Seedorf
  • 56' Smith for Watt
  • 83' Hastie for Cole
  • 83' McGinley for Carroll
  • 88' Maguire for Crawford

Players

Aberdeen

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
LewisGK900.000.0000.0321
HobanCB9010.330.1220.1576
TaylorCB900.060.0000.2026
ConsidineCB9010.770.0000.0642
HedgesRWB900.270.1730.33230
FergusonCM900.350.1420.0953
Ojo CM720.060.0200.0023
HayesLWB880.000.1720.38116
Wright AM790.560.0710.0860
KennedyAM8710.120.5140.33122
CosgroveST870.490.044−0.0222
CampbellMF180.000.0110.0001
McLennanMF110.040.0100.0110
VirtanenMF30.000.0110.0110
MainFW30.040.0000.0000
LeighDF20.000.0100.0110

Motherwell

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
KellyGK900.000.0100.0421
O'DonnellRB900.000.0100.0233
MugabiCB900.000.0100.03412
Gallagher CB900.000.0100.0646
CarrollLB830.050.1310.1687
CampbellCM900.000.0100.0226
CrawfordCM880.000.0100.0027
Polworth CM480.000.0510.1290
SeedorfRW460.130.0100.0011
ColeST830.170.021−0.0211
WattLW560.110.0100.0142
LongFW440.000.0000.0110
SmithFW340.000.2310.1611
HastieMF70.000.0000.0100
McGinleyMF70.000.0000.0002
MaguireDF20.000.0000.0000

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions). xT is the expected threat added by the player's completed open-play passes and carries, and Prog counts progressive passes and carries.

Pass networks

Aberdeen

Hoban and Ojo: 6 passesWright and Cosgrove: 6 passesLewis and Considine: 7 passesLewis and Ojo: 7 passesHoban and Cosgrove: 7 passesHayes and Ferguson: 7 passesOjo and Kennedy: 7 passesFerguson and Kennedy: 8 passesLewis and Taylor: 10 passesTaylor and Ojo: 10 passesConsidine and Hayes: 11 passesOjo and Ferguson: 11 passesHedges and Ferguson: 12 passesHedges and Kennedy: 12 passesHayes and Ojo: 12 passesConsidine and Ojo: 13 passesTaylor and Considine: 14 passesHedges and Ojo: 14 passesHayes and Kennedy: 14 passesHoban and Hedges: 16 passesHedges and Wright: 29 passesLewis: 22 completed passesHoban: 24 completed passesTaylor: 28 completed passesConsidine: 28 completed passesHedges: 47 completed passesHayes: 30 completed passesOjo: 47 completed passesFerguson: 27 completed passesWright: 24 completed passesKennedy: 26 completed passesCosgrove: 14 completed passes131441117819253316LewisHobanTaylorConsidineHedgesHayesOjoFergusonWrightKennedyCosgroveStarters until 72' · lines join pairs with 6+ passes

Motherwell

Kelly and Gallagher: 3 passesO'Donnell and Gallagher: 3 passesO'Donnell and Crawford: 3 passesMugabi and Crawford: 3 passesCarroll and Seedorf: 3 passesPolworth and Seedorf: 3 passesCampbell and Seedorf: 3 passesCampbell and Cole: 3 passesCampbell and Watt: 3 passesKelly and Mugabi: 4 passesO'Donnell and Mugabi: 4 passesGallagher and Crawford: 4 passesGallagher and Carroll: 5 passesCarroll and Crawford: 5 passesCarroll and Watt: 5 passesPolworth and Campbell: 5 passesMugabi and Gallagher: 6 passesPolworth and Cole: 6 passesGallagher and Polworth: 7 passesCarroll and Cole: 7 passesPolworth and Crawford: 7 passesO'Donnell and Campbell: 8 passesPolworth and Watt: 9 passesCarroll and Polworth: 13 passesKelly: 5 completed passesO'Donnell: 12 completed passesMugabi: 14 completed passesGallagher: 19 completed passesCarroll: 22 completed passesPolworth: 26 completed passesCampbell: 15 completed passesCrawford: 18 completed passesSeedorf: 4 completed passesCole: 5 completed passesWatt: 9 completed passes1333163131968174432KellyO'DonnellMugabiGallagherCarrollPolworthCampbellCrawfordSeedorfColeWattStarters until 46' · lines join pairs with 3+ passes

Each starter at the average position of their passes and receptions until the side's first substitution or red card, sized by completed passes. Lines join pairs who passed to each other often, thicker for more passes.

Passing combinations

Aberdeen

FromToPasses
HedgesWright18
HobanHedges15
HayesKennedy13
WrightHedges11
HedgesFerguson11

Motherwell

FromToPasses
CampbellO'Donnell11
PolworthCarroll7
MugabiGallagher7
CarrollPolworth6
O'DonnellMugabi6

The five pairs with the most completed passes from one to the other over the whole match.

Defensive actions

Aberdeen

4−1.04−2.32−5.00−4.88+1.36−0.510+3.93−4.73−4.213+8.14−0.96+1.95−0.74−2.94+0.33−0.55+2.93−1.66+1.50−1.80−1.70−0.93+1.08+5.04+3.40−0.51+0.10−0.60−0.64−8.1FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 22 matches

Motherwell

1−3.815+8.912−2.910+1.76−0.28+1.36−2.13−3.070.03−4.26+1.05−0.42−1.87+1.75+0.12−1.47+3.97+4.72−1.25+1.40−2.32+0.41+0.23+1.66+4.11+0.10−0.62+1.20−0.51+0.1FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 22 matches

Where each side made its tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, recoveries, challenges, and fouls, attacking up the page. Areas are shaded by the difference from the side's average per match this season before this one: amber for more, blue for fewer.

Threat

Aberdeen

0.010.010.020.010.020.010.020.080.040.010.080.060.040.040.010.020.150.110.060.130.100.05−0.030.270.31LessMore

Motherwell

0.010.020.020.020.010.020.010.020.010.030.030.040.010.040.01−0.010.020.020.04−0.020.080.18LessMore

Expected threat added by completed open-play passes and carries, by where the move started, attacking up the page. Expected threat is the chance that possession in an area leads to a goal; a move adds the difference between where it ends and where it starts.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.0League average 1.17AttackAberdeen1.16 → 1.21Motherwell1.06 → 1.04Defence (lower is better)Aberdeen1.05 → 1.03Motherwell1.31 → 1.36

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

ChanceBeforeWith this resultChange
Motherwell
Top six9%5%−4
11th14%17%+3
Bottom6%8%+2
Ross County
11th39%38%−1
Hamilton Academical
11th25%25%0
Bottom60%59%−1

From the forecast before the match (23 January 2021): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

AberdeenMotherwell
Expected goals1.390.94
Win47%25%
Expected Points1.691.03
Clean sheet39%25%

Aberdeen 47%Draw 28%Motherwell 25%

Most likely score 1–1, 13%. Both sides score 47%.

Motherwell goalsAberdeen goals0123456+0123456+8%4%1%6%2%9%9%4%1%4%4%2%2%1%10%13%13%

From the forecast as it stood on 23 January 2021: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

ChanceNowAberdeen winDrawMotherwell win
Motherwell
Top six9%5%9%17%
11th14%17%15%8%
Bottom6%8%5%2%
Ross County
11th39%38%39%43%
Hamilton Academical
11th25%25%25%24%
Bottom60%59%60%63%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Aberdeen

  1. L1–416 JanRoss County (A)xG 2.28–0.95
  2. L1–210 JanRangers (H)xG 0.63–2.03
  3. D0–02 JanDundee United (H)xG 0.85–0.46
  4. W2–126 DecSt. Johnstone (H)xG 1.34–0.88
  5. D0–023 DecMotherwell (A)xG 1.16–0.22
  6. W2–020 DecKilmarnock (A)xG 1.03–0.36

Motherwell

  1. D1–117 JanRangers (H)xG 1.20–0.98
  2. D1–19 JanSt. Mirren (A)xG 1.85–1.51
  3. L0–32 JanHamilton Academical (A)xG 0.86–0.87
  4. L0–230 DecKilmarnock (H)xG 0.40–1.78
  5. D1–126 DecDundee United (A)xG 1.82–0.67
  6. D0–023 DecAberdeen (H)xG 0.22–1.16

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Season to date

AberdeenMotherwell
Position4th11th
Played2222
Won, drawn, lost11–⁠6–⁠54–⁠7–⁠11
Points39 (1.77 per game)19 (0.86 per game)
Expected Points per game1.531.11
Goals29–⁠2419–⁠33
xG per game1.25–⁠1.031.13–⁠1.55
Home: points, xG per game1.92, 1.25–⁠1.180.75, 1.05–⁠1.59
Away: points, xG per game1.60, 1.24–⁠0.851.00, 1.23–⁠1.51
ManagerDerek McInnes (22)Graham Alexander (2)

League matches this season before kick-off. The manager's number is league matches in charge since 2020/21.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.0League average 1.17AttackAberdeen1.16, 4thMotherwell1.06, 7thDefence (lower is better)Aberdeen1.05, 3rdMotherwell1.31, 10th

This season

Attack0.51.01.52.0SepOctNovDecJanAberdeen attack: 1.16Motherwell attack: 1.061.161.06MotherwellAberdeenDefence (lower is better)0.51.01.52.0SepOctNovDecJanAberdeen defence: 1.05Motherwell defence: 1.311.311.05

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

AberdeenMotherwell
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play−13%−28%−12%+11%
Counter-attacks−13%−9%−81%+56%
Set pieces−9%−33%+5%+18%
Penalties+79%+54%−23%+79%
Headers−16%−42%+4%+31%
Left side−22%−25%−27%+8%
Centre−10%−40%−4%+24%
Right side−7%−12%−5%+6%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't.

Matchups

Aberdeen attacking

Aberdeen createdMotherwell concededLeft side−22%+6%Centre−10%+24%Right side−7%+8%Open play−13%+11%Counter-attacks−13%+56%Set pieces−9%+18%Headers−16%+31%

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdAberdeen concededLeft side−27%−12%Centre−4%−40%Right side−5%−25%Open play−12%−28%Counter-attacks−81%−9%Set pieces+5%−33%Headers+4%−42%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Season averages

AberdeenMotherwell

1.25xG1.13
1.03xG against1.55
50%Possession47%
11.0Shots11.0
10.3Shots against12.8
3.6Shots on target3.1
1.5Big chances1.4
19.6Touches in the opposition box20.5
401Passes353
72%Pass accuracy70%
4.6Corners5.0
50%Field tilt39%
36.0Final-third entries32.0
9.7Box entries10.1
13.9Passes per defensive action14.6

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Aberdeen

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level441.300.92
Ahead271.111.19
Behind191.311.04

Motherwell

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level371.181.59
Ahead271.061.63
Behind261.131.42

xG by period

Aberdeen

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.320.124–4
16–300.100.174–4
31–450.270.167–4
46–600.170.186–6
61–750.160.163–2
76–900.220.245–4

Motherwell

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.200.296–5
16–300.260.185–3
31–450.150.223–4
46–600.190.221–4
61–750.230.283–6
76–900.100.371–11

Per game this season, with stoppage time counted in its half; goals are totals for and against.

Most used players by position

Aberdeen

GKCBCBCBRWBCMCMLWBAMSTSTLewis 22Hoban 18McCrorie 3Hayes 2Taylor 20McKenna 4Considine 19Kennedy 6Hedges 5McLennan 3Ferguson 16Ojo 4Wright 1McCrorie 12Campbell 4McGeouch 2Hayes 15Kennedy 4Leigh 2Hedges 9Wright 7Ferguson 2Main 8Watkins 7Hedges 4Cosgrove 7Wright 4Kennedy 33-4-1-2 in 8 of 22 starts

Formations: 3-4-1-2 (8), 3-4-3 (4), 3-4-2-1 (4), 3-5-1-1 (2), 4-4-1-1 (2), 3-1-4-2 (1), 3-5-2 (1)

Motherwell

GKRBCBCBLBCMCMCMRWSTLWCarson 12Chapman 4Archer 4O'Donnell 18Grimshaw 2Gallagher 1Gallagher 20O'Hara 4Mugabi 12Lamie 8Grimshaw 8McGinley 7Lamie 4Campbell 20Seedorf 1Long 1O'Hara 13Crawford 6Maguire 4Polworth 16Turnbull 2Donnelly 1Seedorf 4Lang 4Hastie 3Watt 12Long 5Cole 2Lang 7Watt 5Cole 54-3-3 in 11 of 22 starts

Formations: 4-3-3 (11), 5-3-2 (4), 3-5-2 (3), 4-4-2 (3), 4-2-3-1 (1)

This season's most used formation, with up to three players who started most often in each position and their league starts there. Underneath, when a side has used more than one, every formation with its starts.

Head to head

DateHomeAwayxG
23 December 2020Motherwell0–0AberdeenxG 0.22–1.16
20 September 2020Aberdeen0–3MotherwellxG 0.70–1.75

2 league meetings since 2020/21: Aberdeen won 0, Motherwell won 1, and 1 was a draw. Goals 0–3 and xG 0.93–0.98 per game.

Key players

Aberdeen

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Main8706200.390.09
Watkins9732210.330.07
Ferguson191,671820.310.06
Wright12958210.200.15

Motherwell

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Cole8617310.480.02
Lang121,038310.360.03
Watt171,470330.270.11
Polworth161,400030.080.25

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes.