Kieran Devlin has dropped a worrying claim regarding Celtic’s defending from set pieces.
What’s been said?
In recent comments made after the Bhoys’ 3-2 win over Dundee on Saturday, The Athletic journalist stated his belief that, for all Celtic’s good work in dominating possession of the ball, should the club fail to improve their defending from dead-ball scenarios, it could well cost the club their shot at reclaiming their Premiership crown this season.
Speaking about the Hoops’ defending from set-pieces, Devlin said: “So often they’ll be in complete control only for them to concede from a set piece. Dundee only created an xG of 0.14 from open play, but that doesn’t matter when you’re that sloppy at defensive set-pieces. Could cost them crucial points with the title race this close.”
Chink in the armour
After looking at the statistics, Devlin’s claim that Celtic simply must improve upon their defending from deal ball scenarios would very much appear to be bang on the money.
Indeed, over the Bhoys’ 27 Premiership appearances so far this season, Ange Postecoglou’s side have shipped a mere 17 goals – a rate of just 0.6 goals conceded per game.
However, when breaking these 17 goals against down, one has come from a penalty, one has come from a counter-attack, six have come from open play and a whopping nine have come from a set play – meaning that 53% of the goals the Hoops have conceded in the league have come from a dead ball scenario.
As such, despite the fact that Celtic often dominate possession of the ball – with the Bhoys averaging a 69.9% share of the ball over their 27 Premiership fixtures so far this term – as well as conceding an average of just 0.89 xGA per game, it would appear that there is very much a chink in the Bhoys’ armour.
It’s a flaw that Postecoglou simply must address if he is to give his side the best possible chance of lifting the Premiership trophy come the end of the campaign.
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