Digressive Celts

Matches › 2021/22

Motherwell 2–1 Ross County

Saturday 25 September 2021, 15:00 · Fir Park · Round 7 · Half-time 1–1 · Attendance 4,477

Motherwell Slattery 2', Watt 80'

Ross County Charles-Cook 39'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

MotherwellRoss County
Goals21
xG0.850.79
Expected Points1.371.25

Motherwell 33%Draw 38%Ross County 29%

Most likely score 0–0, 19%. Final score 2–1, 6%.

Ross County goalsMotherwell goals0123456+0123456+6%1%5%1%7%6%2%2%1%19%15%16%16%Final score

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

00.250.50.7510153045607590HTRoberts on for Woolery and Donnelly on for Grimshaw, 63'Carroll on for van Veen, 82'Hungbo on for Charles-Cook, 46'Clarke on for Watson, 51'Robertson on for H. Paton, 81'Slattery 2'Watt 80'Charles-Cook 39'Motherwell 0.85Ross County 0.7900.250.50.7510153045607590HTRoberts on for Woolery and Donnelly on for Grimshaw, 63'Carroll on for van Veen, 82'Hungbo on for Charles-Cook, 46'Clarke on for Watson, 51'Robertson on for H. Paton, 81'Slattery 2'Watt 80'Charles-Cook 39'0.850.79MotherwellRoss County

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Stoppage time is shaded as far as the last shot or event recorded in it. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

MotherwellRoss County

0.85 −0.29xG0.79 −0.09
0.68 −0.99xG on target0.59 −0.07
12 +3.8Shots18 +10.8
5 +1.3Shots on target6 +3.2
0 −2.3Big chances0 −1.5
47% +9Possession53% +19
328 +56Passes370 +99
64% −1Pass accuracy70% +4
43% +15Field tilt57% +29
34 +8Final-third entries37 +14
6 −1.2Box entries9 +1.8
11.7 −2Passes per defensive action10.4 −11
0 −3.8Corners3 +0.3
8 −6Tackles10 −7
12 +1Interceptions9 −2
24 −4Clearances26 −4
5 +1.2Saves3 −1.0
16 +1Fouls18 +5
1 −0.2Offsides1 −1.5

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

Motherwell

Woolery 50', 0.17 xGOjala 38', 0.11 xGWatt 50', 0.11 xGWatt 75', 0.09 xGRoberts 78', 0.04 xGMcGinley 75', 0.03 xGGrimshaw 1', 0.02 xGWatt 9', 0.02 xGSlattery 18', 0.02 xGSlattery 42', 0.02 xGWatt 80', 0.19 xG, goalSlattery 2', 0.03 xG, goal0%0.00 xGSix-yard box: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals28%0.24 xGCentral box: 3 shots, 0.24 xG, 0 goals53%0.45 xGWide in the box: 3 shots, 0.45 xG, 1 goal14%0.12 xGEdge of the box: 4 shots, 0.12 xG, 1 goal5%0.04 xGFurther out: 2 shots, 0.04 xG, 0 goals

Ross County

Callachan 63', 0.23 xGHungbo 60', 0.09 xGSpittal 79', 0.05 xGSpittal 11', 0.04 xGSpittal 25', 0.04 xGSpittal 31', 0.04 xGSpittal 69', 0.04 xGSpittal 21', 0.03 xGWatson 34', 0.03 xGHungbo 66', 0.03 xGHungbo 69', 0.03 xGCharles-Cook 11', 0.02 xGWatson 31', 0.02 xGBurroughs 56', 0.02 xGBurroughs 64', 0.02 xGIacovitti 88', 0.02 xGSpittal 22', 0.01 xGCharles-Cook 39', 0.03 xG, goal0%0.00 xGSix-yard box: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals34%0.27 xGCentral box: 2 shots, 0.27 xG, 0 goals34%0.27 xGWide in the box: 7 shots, 0.27 xG, 0 goals25%0.20 xGEdge of the box: 8 shots, 0.20 xG, 1 goal6%0.05 xGFurther out: 1 shot, 0.05 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

MotherwellRoss County

0.70 9 shots, 2 goalsOpen play0.71 16 shots, 1 goal
0.15 3 shots, 0 goalsSet pieces0.07 2 shots, 0 goals

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

Game state

Level
43 min (47%) · Motherwell 0.70, Ross County 0.51 xG
Motherwell ahead
48 min (53%) · Motherwell 0.15, Ross County 0.27 xG

Line-ups

1214419231687329KellyO'DonnellOjalaLamieMcGinleyGrimshawSlatteryO'HaraWooleryWattvan VeenYellow cardGoalYellow cardGoalYellow card63'63'82'Motherwell 4-3-3Graham Alexander315161815622178267Maynard-BrewerBaldwinIacovittiBurroughsWatsonH. PatonTillsonCharles-CookCallachanWhiteSpittalYellow cardYellow cardGoalYellow cardYellow card51'81'46'Ross County 3-4-1-2Malky Mackay

Motherwell substitutes

  • 63' Roberts for Woolery
  • 63' Donnelly for Grimshaw
  • 82' Carroll for van Veen

Ross County substitutes

  • 46' Hungbo for Charles-Cook
  • 51' Clarke for Watson
  • 81' Robertson for H. Paton

Players

Motherwell

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
KellyGK900.000.0000.0551
O'Donnell RB900.000.1710.3193
OjalaCB900.110.0000.01210
LamieCB9010.000.152−0.0267
McGinleyLB900.030.0700.04411
GrimshawCM630.020.0100.0031
Slattery CM9010.070.0200.0112
O'HaraCM900.000.153−0.0115
WooleryRW630.170.0400.0220
Watt ST9010.410.051−0.0465
van VeenLW820.000.001−0.0302
RobertsMF270.040.0000.0100
DonnellyMF270.000.0100.0221
CarrollDF80.000.0000.0001

Ross County

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
Maynard-BrewerGK900.000.0000.0231
BaldwinCB900.000.0100.0759
IacovittiCB900.020.0000.02210
BurroughsCB900.040.0400.0965
Watson RWB510.040.0100.0051
H. Paton CM8110.000.1120.0773
TillsonCM900.000.0100.0316
Charles-Cook LWB4610.050.0210.0530
Callachan AM900.230.053−0.0131
WhiteST900.000.0500.0511
SpittalST900.250.1450.1385
HungboFW440.150.0610.0551
ClarkeDF390.000.0100.0444
RobertsonMF90.000.0000.0001

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

Motherwell

Kelly and O'Hara: 3 passesOjala and Slattery: 3 passesLamie and O'Hara: 3 passesLamie and Watt: 3 passesGrimshaw and Slattery: 3 passesGrimshaw and Woolery: 3 passesSlattery and Watt: 3 passesO'Donnell and Ojala: 4 passesO'Donnell and Slattery: 4 passesOjala and Lamie: 4 passesLamie and Grimshaw: 4 passesLamie and Slattery: 4 passesSlattery and O'Hara: 4 passesKelly and Ojala: 5 passesKelly and Slattery: 5 passesO'Donnell and Woolery: 5 passesO'Donnell and Watt: 5 passesLamie and McGinley: 5 passesMcGinley and van Veen: 5 passesWoolery and Watt: 5 passesO'Donnell and van Veen: 6 passesMcGinley and O'Hara: 8 passesMcGinley and Watt: 8 passesKelly and Lamie: 10 passesO'Donnell and Grimshaw: 10 passesKelly: 14 completed passesO'Donnell: 22 completed passesOjala: 12 completed passesLamie: 18 completed passesMcGinley: 19 completed passesGrimshaw: 14 completed passesSlattery: 16 completed passesO'Hara: 15 completed passesWoolery: 7 completed passesWatt: 10 completed passesvan Veen: 8 completed passes1214419231687329KellyO'DonnellOjalaLamieMcGinleyGrimshawSlatteryO'HaraWooleryWattvan VeenStarters until 63' · lines join pairs with 3+ passes

Ross County

Baldwin and Tillson: 4 passesBurroughs and Spittal: 4 passesWatson and Charles-Cook: 4 passesWatson and Callachan: 4 passesH. Paton and Callachan: 4 passesBaldwin and Iacovitti: 5 passesWatson and Tillson: 5 passesH. Paton and Charles-Cook: 5 passesBaldwin and Watson: 6 passesBurroughs and Charles-Cook: 6 passesWatson and H. Paton: 6 passesCharles-Cook and Spittal: 6 passesBurroughs and Iacovitti: 7 passesBurroughs and H. Paton: 7 passesH. Paton and White: 7 passesCallachan and Spittal: 7 passesWatson and Spittal: 10 passesH. Paton and Spittal: 11 passesMaynard-Brewer: 8 completed passesBaldwin: 17 completed passesBurroughs: 20 completed passesIacovitti: 8 completed passesWatson: 20 completed passesH. Paton: 25 completed passesTillson: 12 completed passesCharles-Cook: 11 completed passesCallachan: 10 completed passesWhite: 8 completed passesSpittal: 20 completed passes315181615622178267Maynard-BrewerBaldwinBurroughsIacovittiWatsonH. PatonTillsonCharles-CookCallachanWhiteSpittalStarters until 46' · lines join pairs with 4+ 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

Motherwell

FromToPasses
McGinleyWatt10
OjalaLamie8
O'Donnellvan Veen7
McGinleyLamie6
OjalaO'Donnell6

Ross County

FromToPasses
H. PatonSpittal14
SpittalWatson9
BurroughsH. Paton9
H. PatonWhite8
BurroughsSpittal6

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

Defensive actions

Motherwell

3−2.013+8.216−5.57+1.07−0.84−1.711+5.04−3.77+0.89+0.30−5.83−1.830.05+0.86+1.54+0.35+1.24+2.25+2.21−1.81−2.22+1.73+1.74+2.53+1.22+1.20−0.30−0.51+0.30−0.8FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 6 matches

Ross County

4−1.55+0.39−0.37−1.810−0.29+0.79+2.07−2.05−1.77+2.77+4.52−2.58+2.86+2.03+0.32−0.51−0.83−0.51−2.05+3.30−0.72+0.81−0.80−1.300.02+1.80−0.21+0.313−5.31−5.5FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 6 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

Motherwell

0.010.020.010.010.010.020.020.010.030.01−0.010.040.050.030.040.03−0.010.020.01−0.03−0.01−0.01−0.210.010.26LessMore

Ross County

0.010.010.050.010.010.010.050.03−0.010.040.020.040.050.010.030.080.04−0.050.02−0.01−0.050.02−0.020.090.12LessMore

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 1.14AttackMotherwell1.02 → 1.00Ross County0.93 → 0.92Defence (lower is better)Motherwell1.38 → 1.37Ross County1.55 → 1.54

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 six42%50%+8
11th5%3%−2
Bottom2%1%−1
Ross County
Top six4%3%−1
11th27%29%+2
Bottom28%33%+5
Dundee FC
11th21%22%+1
Bottom48%46%−2
Aberdeen
Top six68%67%−1
11th1%1%0

From the forecast before the match (25 September 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

MotherwellRoss County
Expected goals1.581.05
Win49%25%
Expected Points1.741.00
Clean sheet35%21%

Motherwell 49%Draw 26%Ross County 25%

Most likely score 1–1, 13%. Both sides score 52%.

Ross County goalsMotherwell goals0123456+0123456+8%7%4%1%6%2%5%2%5%5%3%2%2%1%11%13%9%9%

From the forecast as it stood on 25 September 2021: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

ChanceNowMotherwell winDrawRoss County win
Motherwell
Top six42%50%40%30%
11th5%3%6%9%
Bottom2%1%2%4%
Ross County
Top six4%3%4%8%
11th27%29%28%22%
Bottom28%33%27%20%
Dundee FC
11th21%22%22%20%
Bottom48%46%48%50%
Aberdeen
Top six68%67%69%71%
11th1%1%1%2%

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

Motherwell

  1. D1–119 SepRangers (A)xG 0.27–2.65
  2. W2–011 SepAberdeen (H)xG 0.92–1.56
  3. W1–028 AugDundee FC (H)xG 0.23–1.15
  4. W2–121 AugLivingston (A)xG 2.30–0.95
  5. D1–18 AugSt. Johnstone (A)xG 1.67–0.80
  6. L2–31 AugHibernian (H)xG 1.47–2.88

Ross County

  1. D2–218 SepHearts (H)xG 1.44–1.21
  2. L0–311 SepCeltic (A)xG 0.45–2.71
  3. D1–129 AugAberdeen (A)xG 1.15–2.94
  4. L2–422 AugRangers (H)xG 1.44–2.40
  5. L0–38 AugHibernian (A)xG 0.48–1.62
  6. D0–031 JulSt. Johnstone (H)xG 0.31–1.68

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

Season to date

MotherwellRoss County
Position4th11th
Played66
Won, drawn, lost3–⁠2–⁠10–⁠3–⁠3
Points11 (1.83 per game)3 (0.50 per game)
Expected Points per game1.060.59
Goals9–⁠65–⁠13
xG per game1.14–⁠1.670.88–⁠2.09
Home: points, xG per game2.00, 0.87–⁠1.860.67, 1.06–⁠1.76
Away: points, xG per game1.67, 1.41–⁠1.470.33, 0.69–⁠2.42
ManagerGraham Alexander (24)Malky Mackay (6)

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 1.14AttackMotherwell1.02, 6thRoss County0.93, 10thDefence (lower is better)Motherwell1.38, 10thRoss County1.55, 12th

This season

Attack0.51.01.52.0AugSepMotherwell attack: 1.02Ross County attack: 0.931.020.93Ross CountyMotherwellDefence (lower is better)0.51.01.52.0AugSepMotherwell defence: 1.38Ross County defence: 1.551.551.38

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

MotherwellRoss County
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play−30%+47%−16%+78%
Counter-attacks+78%−32%−100%+4%
Set pieces+73%+15%−73%+72%
Penalties−100%+20%+20%+20%
Headers+67%+18%−39%+125%
Left side+32%+86%−32%+98%
Centre+20%+17%−47%+60%
Right side−72%+22%−8%+75%

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

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdRoss County concededLeft side+32%+75%Centre+20%+60%Right side−72%+98%Open play−30%+78%Counter-attacks+78%+4%Set pieces+73%+72%Headers+67%+125%

Ross County attacking

Ross County createdMotherwell concededLeft side−32%+22%Centre−47%+17%Right side−8%+86%Open play−16%+47%Counter-attacks−100%−32%Set pieces−73%+15%Headers−39%+18%

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

MotherwellRoss County

1.14xG0.88
1.67xG against2.09
38%Possession34%
8.2Shots7.2
16.5Shots against18.5
3.7Shots on target2.8
2.3Big chances1.5
272Passes271
65%Pass accuracy65%
3.8Corners2.7
27%Field tilt28%
25.5Final-third entries22.6
7.2Box entries7.2
14.0Passes per defensive action21.7

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Motherwell

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level411.391.41
Ahead270.442.19
Behind221.551.50

Ross County

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level490.791.62
Ahead130.622.39
Behind281.142.78

xG by period

Motherwell

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.200.251–1
16–300.160.242–1
31–450.070.171–2
46–600.280.382–1
61–750.160.361–1
76–900.280.272–0

Ross County

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.130.231–2
16–300.000.360–3
31–450.280.203–1
46–600.030.180–1
61–750.160.500–3
76–900.270.621–3

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

Most used players by position

Motherwell

GKRBCBCBLBCMCMCMRWSTLWKelly 6O'Donnell 3Mugabi 3Ojala 4Mugabi 3Johansen 1Lamie 4Carroll 4McGinley 2Grimshaw 4Slattery 6Donnelly 2O'Hara 4Maguire 2Woolery 4Amaluzor 2van Veen 3Watt 3Watt 2Woolery 2van Veen 14-3-3 in every start

Ross County

GKRBCBCBLBDMDMRWAMLWSTLaidlaw 5Maynard-Brewer 1Randall 3Burroughs 2Donaldson 1Clarke 3Donaldson 1Iacovitti 5Baldwin 1H. Paton 1B. Paton 4Charles-Cook 1D. Samuel 1Tillson 5Callachan 1Spittal 4Charles-Cook 1Cancola 1H. Paton 1Charles-Cook 1Baldwin 1Callachan 4Tillson 1Watson 1Charles-Cook 3Spittal 2Callachan 1White 64-2-3-1 in 2 of 6 starts

Formations: 4-2-3-1 (2), 3-4-1-2 (1), 4-5-1 (1), 5-4-1 (1), 3-5-2 (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
16 May 2021Motherwell1–2Ross CountyxG 0.67–1.23
27 January 2021Ross County1–2MotherwellxG 1.86–1.56
24 October 2020Motherwell4–0Ross CountyxG 3.11–1.47
3 August 2020Ross County1–0MotherwellxG 1.33–1.96

4 league meetings since 2020/21: Motherwell won 2, Ross County won 2, and 0 were drawn. Goals 7–4 and xG 1.83–1.47 per game.

Key players

Motherwell

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Woolery6495110.310.08
Watt5457300.360.03
Slattery6524000.030.03
Mugabi6540100.040.01

Ross County

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Callachan6518000.230.05
White6513110.220.04
Spittal6484200.160.09
Charles-Cook6525110.100.15

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