Much has been spoken about the Silkmen's failure in recent weeks to convert their pressure in games into points.
Saturday's game against Grimsby was a case in point, with numerous chances created, the woodwork hit again and a seemingly good goal not allowed. The result, another home draw and a sense of two points lost.
On the plus side it was the team's fifth clean sheet in the league this season and it made just two defeats in the last ten league outings.
Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics
We did a quick trawl of the shooting stats this season and this is what we found.
Shooting Boots
So far in League Two this season there have been a total of 5100 efforts on goal. That equates to an average of just over 212 attempts per team or an average of 11.8 per team per game.
The Silkmen currently sit in a respectable 8th position with 230 efforts on goal. Notts County come top of the list with 275 with Lincoln and Barnet at the bottom with just 157.
On Target Ratio
Where the stats do not look quite so rosy is when you look at the shots on target. With 97 efforts on target Keith Alexander's men lie 15th in the table that in once again topped by Notts County with 140. The average across all teams in League Two is 104.
The Silkmen slip even further down the standings when the teams are ranked by accuracy of efforts on goal! This is measured by the percentage of all efforts that are on target. At 40% (i.e. four in ten efforts are on target) the Silkmen have the lowest accuracy ratio in the division. Chesterfield come out tops at 55% with the average for the league being 48%.
Knock on Wood
Evidence that Lady Luck has not been on our side this season comes from the following stat. The Silkmen have hit the woodwork on 12 occasions this season, a figure beaten (if that's the right word) by Port Vale (14) and Accrington (13).
What does that all mean? Well in simple terms the lads are creating chances but just struggling to find the back of the net as Keith Alexander is only too aware.
"First up its good that we are creating chances," said Keith. "We can take a lot of positives from that. But clearly we need to improve when in front of goal."
As a former striker yourself what advice are you giving the lads?
"I've scored a few in my time but I would hate to think anyone was modelling their game on me," smiled Keith.
"Seriously though the strikers at the top level, apart from having a natural eye for goal, have one thing in common and that is a high degree of composure. And that's what we need to work on. Even at this level as a striker you probably have a little more time on the ball than you initially think. So we've probably been guilty of snatching at some of the chances that have come our way."
"Confidence also plays a big part but the only way you can increase your confidence is through scoring. So it's a bit 'chicken and egg'."
"As I've said on countless occasions already we are a young side and we can only get better. So whilst we need to recognise we can improve, it is not something we should start beating ourselves up over. If we continue to create the chances we have been doing the goals will eventually come."
League Two Stats in full
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Shots |
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Ratios |
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| TEAM |
On Target |
Off Target |
Woodwork |
Total |
Goals |
Goals/shot % |
On Target % |
| Notts County |
140 |
124 |
11 |
275 |
36 |
13% |
51% |
| Crewe Alexandra |
128 |
136 |
7 |
271 |
30 |
11% |
47% |
| Bradford City |
119 |
127 |
7 |
253 |
28 |
11% |
47% |
| Rochdale |
132 |
109 |
3 |
244 |
34 |
14% |
54% |
| Dagenham & Red |
99 |
133 |
11 |
243 |
30 |
12% |
41% |
| Bournemouth |
111 |
122 |
7 |
240 |
23 |
10% |
46% |
| Burton Albion |
115 |
112 |
4 |
231 |
25 |
11% |
50% |
| Macclesfield Town |
91 |
127 |
12 |
230 |
19 |
8% |
40% |
| Chesterfield |
123 |
99 |
3 |
225 |
32 |
14% |
55% |
| Accrington S |
112 |
96 |
13 |
221 |
23 |
10% |
51% |
| Bury |
120 |
94 |
6 |
220 |
24 |
11% |
55% |
| Shrewsbury Town |
103 |
109 |
8 |
220 |
28 |
13% |
47% |
| Aldershot Town |
104 |
103 |
7 |
214 |
27 |
13% |
49% |
| Northampton Town |
111 |
97 |
5 |
213 |
26 |
12% |
52% |
| Morecambe |
97 |
107 |
7 |
211 |
29 |
14% |
46% |
| Cheltenham Town |
94 |
103 |
9 |
206 |
23 |
11% |
46% |
| Rotherham |
101 |
97 |
7 |
205 |
27 |
13% |
49% |
| Torquay United |
90 |
104 |
5 |
199 |
20 |
10% |
45% |
| Hereford United |
90 |
86 |
1 |
177 |
22 |
12% |
51% |
| Grimsby Town |
78 |
85 |
4 |
167 |
14 |
8% |
47% |
| Port Vale |
66 |
81 |
14 |
161 |
20 |
12% |
41% |
| Darlington |
68 |
90 |
2 |
160 |
10 |
6% |
43% |
| Lincoln City |
70 |
82 |
5 |
157 |
11 |
7% |
45% |
| Barnet |
70 |
81 |
6 |
157 |
22 |
14% |
45% |
