Analysis Corner: Who tops the League in Set Pieces?

Published 7th Mar 2017
Last updated 28th Mar 2017

It is often underappreciated just how much of a role set pieces play in a football match. Of the 444 goals in this season's Scottish Premiership, 142 have come within 10 seconds of a free kick, corner or throw in. That's just under a third of all goals scored.

Set pieces are so important mainly because they hand the initiative to your team. Judging on the situation, they provide a couple of options. They can either pause the game, and allow everyone in their team to get into certain positions that could be dangerous for the opposition. The other option is to take the set piece quickly, either because they want to exploit a numerical advantage (more men forwards) or because they've noticed their opponents switch off for a second when the referee blows his whistle.

So, let's start with the easy stat: who has scored most from set pieces so far this season?

Aberdeen lead the way with eighteen, but credit must go to Paul Hartley at Dundee in 2nd place with sixteen. Dundee have scored over half of their goals this season from set pieces. Had they not put in that time on the training ground, who knows where they'd be just now?

Rangers fans will probably not love this table either. Despite scoring three goals from corners at the weekend against Hamilton, they have only managed seven on league duty. Only Kilmarnock have fared worse.

Also, it's interesting how few of Celtic's goals come from set plays. Although with an average of nearly three goals a game being scored, Brendan Rodgers will still probably be able to sleep at night.

So, let's flip it: who's conceded the most?

Better news for Rangers fans, with only Celtic conceding fewer from set pieces in the Scottish Premiership. A third of the Hoops' goals have been conceded from these set pieces, but five goals is still well under the league average of eleven.

Lee McCulloch may want to address his Kilmarnock side's weakness from dead balls, with nearly half of their goals conceded. Whether it's a tactical issue or a mental issue, the Rugby Park would be far better off if they could stop conceded from these situations.

Finally, let's look at each team's overall "balance": total goals from set pieces minus total goals conceded from set pieces:

Dead balls have propelled Aberdeen to a comfortable second in the league, and taken Dundee right out of a relegation dogfight. On the other hand, Rangers and Kilmarnock's evident lack of success in this area has been a monkey on their back all season.

So far, each game in the Scottish Premiership has seen just under three goals a game. Given that a third of goals scored have come from set pieces, we can expect to see roughly one goal a game from these dead ball situations. Approaching the business end of the season, coaches up and down the country should be doing everything to ensure that goal goes their way.

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