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St Johnstone Opta awards: The statistical story of Perth side’s season as key men AND unexpected trends emerge

Drey Wright, Ryan McGowan, Andy Considine and Connor McLennan all feature prominently in St Johnstone's Opta numbers for the season so far. Images: SNS.
Drey Wright, Ryan McGowan, Andy Considine and Connor McLennan all feature prominently in St Johnstone's Opta numbers for the season so far. Images: SNS.

Opta statistics don’t paint the whole picture of how a team has been performing or which players have been making the biggest contributions within it.

But they do offer an interesting insight into some key aspects of the game.

Here, Courier Sport picks out the major categories to find out which men have out on top for St Johnstone and what the numbers mean in the context of their season so far.


Penalty box presence

As Saints’ top scorer, it should come as no surprise that Stevie May has had the most shots, the most shots on target and the most touches inside the opposition box.

Nor should it shock that Nicky Clark is in the top three for those categories as well.

St Johnstone’s shots, shots on target and touches in the box numbers for the season so far. Image: Opta.

Graham Carey – who missed most of September and October through injury – coming second for shots and shots on target is interesting.

Had he matched May’s minutes, the Irishman would probably have exceeded him.

Given the quality Carey showed for his goal at Hearts and the pedigree he has in that facet of the game, you would expect to see him finding the back of the net more as the season progresses.

St Johnstone’s top three for expected goals. Image: Opta.

This is backed up by the fact his xG of 2.26 is the best at the club, with Clark in front of May.

Whichever way you look at it, these three players are Saints’ main goal threats and are likely to remain so.


Melker Hallberg – still the creative heartbeat

Much has been made of the Swede’s positional change from the second part of last season to the first part of this.

More often than not – with Carey and Jamie Murphy now on the books and David Wotherspoon back – he’s been deployed by Callum Davidson in a deeper, holding central midfield role as opposed to the one without a leash he had been accustomed to.

Hallberg says he likes this position best – and Saints’ results haven’t been too shabby following the switch.

But has there been a major sacrifice in terms of his offensive output?

It would appear not.

Hallberg is way out in front in terms of chances created (20), almost double next best, Drey Wright.

Melker Hallberg has created more chances than any other St Johnstone player – by far.

He’s also second highest in terms of crosses, with the caveat his total of 37 includes corners.

You can question his mobility and tackling but, in terms of impacting the team on the front foot from further back, the Swede is doing just fine where he is.


Drey the disruptor

As the senior and most-used wing-back in Davidson’s side, Wright’s importance doesn’t require statistical underpinning.

But Opta numbers do reveal a couple of unexpected bonuses.

That Wright has been Saints’ main dribbler and crosser of a ball would be obvious to any supporter.

Drey Wright is St Johnstone’s chief crosser and dribbler. Image: Opta.

What might have gone under the radar is that he’s second equal in terms of touches alongside Hallberg and behind Andy Considine.

Most eye-catching, though, is his defensive work.

Wright won possession more than any other player and was second behind Ryan McGowan on tackle count.


The two senior pros

There aren’t any Opta metrics for on and off-pitch leaderships qualities but I suspect McGowan and Considine would be at the top for Davidson as far as those are concerned.

Both have lived up to – make that, exceeded – expectations in terms of what they’ve brought to this St Johnstone team.

The Australian is a country mile in front of the pack for both duels and tackles won.

Ryan McGowan tops the duels category. Image: Opta.
It’s a similar Ryan McGowan-led story for tackles. Image: Opta.

Considine, meanwhile, is first for touches, aerial duels won, clearances and interceptions.

Andy Considine is at the front in three key defensive categories, the first being aerial duels. Image: Opta.
Considine has also made more interceptions and clearances. Image: Opta.

If the two of them remain close to ever-presents over the rest of the season, I’d be very confident Saints will finish in the top six.


Under the radar

There are plenty of summer signings ahead of Connor McLennan when it comes to defining moments in a St Johnstone shirt.

But he is making his mark.

The on-loan Aberdeen forward has the best passing accuracy percentage (80%) for anybody who has played 10 games or more for Saints this season and the best in the final third (73%).

Connor McLennan’s impressive passing accuracy numbers have gone under the radar. Image: Opta.

Also, it’s a small sample size (six games, three of them off the bench) but Dan Phillips’ entry into the first of those fields (77%) is encouraging for what is to come from the young Trinidad and Tobago international.

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