Wrexham's chances fell well short at Bramall Lane

Sheffield Utd beat Wrexham by one goal, but the visitors' figures show chances far below what they normally create.

Wrexham usually create a fair amount when they travel, and at Bramall Lane they created very little. Their shot count sat well below what they normally manage away, and their expected goals figure, a rough measure of how likely each shot was to go in, came to less than half their usual level. Sheffield Utd won by a single goal, and it was the home side's chances that produced it.

Sheffield Utd had 59% of the ball, against the 42% they usually keep at home, and that share bought them more shots than normal. They took 13, well above their usual figure, yet their expected goals total was almost exactly their normal level. In other words, they fired more efforts, but the average effort was of less promise than the ones they usually take. Four of those shots were on target.

The goal came from Ben Brereton in the 30th minute, his second shot of the match and the one that went in. His rating of 7.8 reflects a forward who scored and also set up a chance for a team-mate. Everything else that happened in the match was built around that single moment, and the home side had little trouble keeping it.

Wrexham had 41% of possession, below the 49% they usually enjoy on their travels, and they took 8 shots, none of which were on target. Their expected goals came to 0.53 against a usual 1.26, so their chances were both fewer and poorer than normal. Their goalkeeper, A. Patterson, made three saves, and the visitors did not win a single corner.

Three players were booked, and Callum Doyle's yellow card for Wrexham came in the 27th minute, three minutes before Brereton scored. Liam Kitching and Kalvin Phillips were both booked for Sheffield Utd later in the half. Nobody was sent off, so neither side lost a player to dismissal.

Both sides have won two of their last six matches, so neither arrived in particularly good form. Wrexham's recent results include three defeats in that run, and they have been on the losing end of more matches than they have won in the same spell.

Sheffield Utd sit 12th in the table on 16 points, while Wrexham are 17th on 14.

Player of the matchB. Brereton1 goal7.8

M. Cooper1 save7.2

K. Phillips1 chance created7.2

T. Cannon5 duels won7.1