If ever there was a match where the data belies the result then this is a suitable example. It's not that the data suggests the scoreline flatters the winners, in fact it's quite the opposite in that it doesn't confirm just how humiliating this result could have been, assuming of course that losing 5-1 wasn't humiliating enough!
Some of the data falls on familiar ground for Notts fans. The lions share of possession, more passes, more territory etc. However it's in front of goal at both ends of the pitch where this game was won and lost. Yes, Notts were reduced to 10 men early on but in the modern game, especially for a team so well drilled in both keeping the ball and fitness it's really not an acceptable excuse.
Despite creating 13 chances Notts only managed to get 3 of those on target and if you remove the 0.37 xG for McGoldrick's goal the other 12 shots only averaged a paltry 0.052 xG each, a clear indication of not carving out enough high value goal scoring opportunities, something that was a trademark of Notts last season.
At the other end Sutton's xG wasn't massively better, recording an xG total of 1.48, suggesting they were either more clinical in front of goal, lucky, or came up against some lacklustre defending. It's safe to say it was a combination of the first and last of those three probable scenarios.
Sutton also managed to just out perform Notts in wing play, again, an area of the Magpies game that was so good last season.
Based on the match xG Notts' expected win percentage wasn't great at just 24.49% compared to 48.09% which considering the final score maybe should have been higher. Expected points came out at 1.01 for Notts and 1.78 for Sutton.
Finally, after McGoldrick's goal on 69 minutes Notts didn't record another single attempt on goal. It's safe to say this wasn't the return to the EFL we were all hoping for!
We will very shortly have a dedicated page for season stats which will detail all the stuff you were used to finding on the old site including player stats, match by match info, points needed and results tracker graphs and of course a continuation of Luke Williams' stats.
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for an announcement confirming this page has gone live!
COYP!
Richard