Expected goals
Southampton expected goals (xG) 2026/2027
Championship · after 11 matches · updated 21 Oct
Southampton's attacking and defensive expected goals in Championship 2026/2027, compared with the results they produced and with the rest of the competition.
Southampton xG and xGA per match
Every match ↓| Rank | Club | xG per match |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | West Ham United | 2.16 |
| #2 | Middlesbrough | 1.98 |
| #3 | Cardiff City | 1.88 |
| #4 | Millwall | 1.85 |
| #5 | Southampton | 1.83 |
| #6 | Birmingham City | 1.77 |
| #7 | Wolverhampton | 1.71 |
| #8 | Swansea City | 1.60 |
| #9 | Queens Park Rangers | 1.50 |
| #10 | Norwich City | 1.47 |
| #11 | Bolton Wanderers | 1.40 |
| #12 | Portsmouth | 1.35 |
| #13 | Bristol City | 1.32 |
| #14 | West Bromwich Albion | 1.29 |
| #15 | Lincoln City | 1.25 |
| #16 | Preston North End | 1.24 |
| #17 | Burnley | 1.23 |
| #18 | Watford | 1.13 |
| #19 | Wrexham | 1.12 |
| #20 | Sheffield United | 1.06 |
| #21 | Charlton Athletic | 1.00 |
| #22 | Blackburn Rovers | 0.98 |
| #23 | Derby County | 0.96 |
| #24 | Stoke City | 0.90 |
- League avg
- 1.42
- Total
- 20.16 11 matches
| Rank | Club | xGA per match |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wolverhampton | 0.99 |
| #2 | Middlesbrough | 1.02 |
| #3 | Swansea City | 1.14 |
| #4 | Portsmouth | 1.17 |
| =5 | West Ham United | 1.18 |
| =5 | Wrexham | 1.18 |
| #7 | Queens Park Rangers | 1.20 |
| #8 | Birmingham City | 1.23 |
| #9 | Southampton | 1.31 |
| #10 | Bristol City | 1.35 |
| #11 | Millwall | 1.37 |
| #12 | Lincoln City | 1.37 |
| #13 | West Bromwich Albion | 1.44 |
| #14 | Preston North End | 1.46 |
| #15 | Sheffield United | 1.49 |
| #16 | Charlton Athletic | 1.57 |
| #17 | Norwich City | 1.60 |
| #18 | Burnley | 1.62 |
| #19 | Cardiff City | 1.63 |
| #20 | Derby County | 1.65 |
| #21 | Bolton Wanderers | 1.69 |
| #22 | Stoke City | 1.71 |
| #23 | Blackburn Rovers | 1.72 |
| #24 | Watford | 1.88 |
- League avg
- 1.42
- Total
- 14.38 11 matches
| Rank | Club | xGD per match |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | West Ham United | +0.99 |
| #2 | Middlesbrough | +0.96 |
| #3 | Wolverhampton | +0.73 |
| #4 | Birmingham City | +0.53 |
| #5 | Southampton | +0.53 |
| #6 | Millwall | +0.48 |
| #7 | Swansea City | +0.46 |
| #8 | Queens Park Rangers | +0.30 |
| #9 | Cardiff City | +0.25 |
| #10 | Portsmouth | +0.18 |
| #11 | Bristol City | -0.03 |
| #12 | Wrexham | -0.05 |
| #13 | Lincoln City | -0.13 |
| #14 | Norwich City | -0.14 |
| #15 | West Bromwich Albion | -0.15 |
| #16 | Preston North End | -0.22 |
| #17 | Bolton Wanderers | -0.30 |
| #18 | Burnley | -0.40 |
| #19 | Sheffield United | -0.43 |
| #20 | Charlton Athletic | -0.57 |
| #21 | Derby County | -0.69 |
| #22 | Blackburn Rovers | -0.74 |
| #23 | Watford | -0.75 |
| #24 | Stoke City | -0.81 |
- League avg
- 0.00
- Total
- +5.78 11 matches
| Rank | Club | xPts per match |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Middlesbrough | 2.03 |
| #2 | Wolverhampton | 1.90 |
| #3 | West Ham United | 1.89 |
| #4 | Birmingham City | 1.75 |
| #5 | Southampton | 1.73 |
| #6 | Millwall | 1.68 |
| #7 | Swansea City | 1.63 |
| #8 | Queens Park Rangers | 1.61 |
| #9 | Cardiff City | 1.51 |
| #10 | Portsmouth | 1.51 |
| #11 | Bristol City | 1.44 |
| #12 | Wrexham | 1.40 |
| #13 | Lincoln City | 1.37 |
| #14 | Norwich City | 1.26 |
| #15 | West Bromwich Albion | 1.25 |
| #16 | Preston North End | 1.20 |
| #17 | Bolton Wanderers | 1.15 |
| #18 | Derby County | 1.07 |
| #19 | Sheffield United | 1.07 |
| #20 | Burnley | 1.05 |
| #21 | Charlton Athletic | 1.00 |
| #22 | Stoke City | 0.91 |
| #23 | Blackburn Rovers | 0.89 |
| #24 | Watford | 0.88 |
- League avg
- 1.38
- Total
- 19.02 vs 21 actual pts
What the xG says
Southampton's underlying numbers are among the best in Championship. They rank #5 for xG difference at +0.53 per match, driven by both high shot volume and high chance quality. Their 21 goals are 0.84 above 20.16 xG, while 21 points are 1.98 above 19.02 xPts.
Actual vs expected
Select a row to chart it across the season.
Goals minus xG, match by match
Southampton are 0.84 goals above their xG after 11 matches. The gap was widest at +5.41, against Bristol City on Sat 12/09.
- Goals
- 21
- xG
- 20.16
- Gap
- +0.84
- This match
- Match gap
- Running gap
| Date | Opponent | Goals | xG | Match gap | Running gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 16/08 | Watford | 1 | 1.71 | -0.71 | -0.71 |
| Sat 22/08 | Stoke City | 3 | 2.32 | +0.68 | -0.03 |
| Sat 29/08 | Millwall | 5 | 3.62 | +1.38 | +1.35 |
| Tue 01/09 | Birmingham City | 1 | 1.02 | -0.02 | +1.33 |
| Sat 05/09 | Lincoln City | 1 | 0.77 | +0.23 | +1.56 |
| Tue 08/09 | Swansea City | 3 | 1.44 | +1.56 | +3.12 |
| Sat 12/09 | Bristol City | 4 | 1.71 | +2.29 | +5.41 |
| Sat 19/09 | Wrexham | 1 | 2.08 | -1.08 | +4.33 |
| Sun 11/10 | Portsmouth | 1 | 1.28 | -0.28 | +4.05 |
| Wed 14/10 | Norwich City | 1 | 2.34 | -1.34 | +2.71 |
| Sat 17/10 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 1.87 | -1.87 | +0.84 |
Southampton xG trend
Current form +0.68 npxGD per match
The last 6 matches with xG.
Out-created the opponent in 8 of 11 matches. The worst was against Lincoln City on Sat 05/09 (-1.49).
- npxG · last 6
- 1.70
- npxGA · last 6
- 1.02
- npxG
- npxGA
- npxGD
- Avg so far
| Date | Opponent | npxG | npxGA | npxGD | Avg so far |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 16/08 | Watford | 1.65 | 0.82 | +0.83 | +0.83 |
| Sat 22/08 | Stoke City | 1.81 | 0.67 | +1.14 | +0.99 |
| Sat 29/08 | Millwall | 2.42 | 1.09 | +1.33 | +1.10 |
| Tue 01/09 | Birmingham City | 0.95 | 1.21 | -0.26 | +0.76 |
| Sat 05/09 | Lincoln City | 0.78 | 2.27 | -1.49 | +0.31 |
| Tue 08/09 | Swansea City | 1.23 | 0.33 | +0.90 | +0.41 |
| Sat 12/09 | Bristol City | 1.37 | 2.17 | -0.80 | +0.24 |
| Sat 19/09 | Wrexham | 1.60 | 0.62 | +0.98 | +0.33 |
| Sun 11/10 | Portsmouth | 1.28 | 0.72 | +0.56 | +0.35 |
| Wed 14/10 | Norwich City | 2.86 | 1.08 | +1.78 | +0.50 |
| Sat 17/10 | Bolton Wanderers | 1.87 | 1.22 | +0.65 | +0.51 |
Each bar is one match's non-penalty xG minus the non-penalty xG against; the line is that difference averaged over the season up to each match, and it finishes on the dashed season average — 1.62 npxG and 1.11 npxGA per match. Current form is the same difference over the last 6 matches with xG.
Strength of schedule
- Season so far
- number 19 hardest of 24 in Championship
- −0.05 xG vs league average
- Over 11 league matches
- Last 5
- number 16 hardest of 24 in Championship
- −0.02 xG vs league average
- Over 5 league matches
Opponents behind the figures
Season so far
−0.05 xG vs league average · over 11 matches · number 19 hardest of 24
- Bolton Wanderers Home −0.05
- Norwich City Away +0.02
- Portsmouth Home +0.11
- Wrexham Away −0.05
- Bristol City Home −0.11
- Swansea City Home +0.14
- Lincoln City Away −0.19
- Birmingham City Away +0.22
- Millwall Home +0.22
- Stoke City Home −0.44
- Watford Away −0.39
Last 5
−0.02 xG vs league average · over 5 matches · number 16 hardest of 24
- Bolton Wanderers Home −0.05
- Norwich City Away +0.02
- Portsmouth Home +0.11
- Wrexham Away −0.05
- Bristol City Home −0.11
Southampton shots and chance quality
High volume, high quality. Southampton take 15.2 shots a match (league 13.5) at 0.11 npxG a shot (league 0.10), #6 in Championship for volume and #5 for quality. 73% of their shots come from inside the box (league 67%), and set pieces produce 17% of their npxG (league 28%).
Attack
| Rank | Club | shots per match |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Middlesbrough | 19.1 |
| #2 | Cardiff City | 17.2 |
| #3 | West Ham United | 16.3 |
| #4 | Wolverhampton | 16.2 |
| #5 | Portsmouth | 15.3 |
| #6 | Southampton | 15.2 |
| #7 | Queens Park Rangers | 15.1 |
| =8 | Burnley | 14.3 |
| =8 | Millwall | 14.3 |
| #10 | Bristol City | 14.0 |
| #11 | Norwich City | 13.9 |
| #12 | Bolton Wanderers | 13.8 |
| #13 | Birmingham City | 13.7 |
| #14 | Watford | 13.0 |
| #15 | Derby County | 12.7 |
| =16 | Preston North End | 12.1 |
| =16 | Swansea City | 12.1 |
| =18 | Lincoln City | 11.5 |
| =18 | West Bromwich Albion | 11.5 |
| =20 | Stoke City | 11.4 |
| =20 | Wrexham | 11.4 |
| #22 | Blackburn Rovers | 11.2 |
| #23 | Charlton Athletic | 10.2 |
| #24 | Sheffield United | 9.4 |
- League avg
- 13.5
- Total
- 167 shots from 11 matches
| Rank | Club | npxG per shot |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Swansea City | 0.13 |
| #2 | Millwall | 0.12 |
| #3 | Birmingham City | 0.12 |
| #4 | West Ham United | 0.12 |
| #5 | Southampton | 0.11 |
| #6 | Sheffield United | 0.11 |
| #7 | Middlesbrough | 0.10 |
| #8 | Charlton Athletic | 0.10 |
| #9 | Cardiff City | 0.10 |
| #10 | Wrexham | 0.10 |
| #11 | Wolverhampton | 0.10 |
| #12 | West Bromwich Albion | 0.10 |
| #13 | Preston North End | 0.09 |
| #14 | Queens Park Rangers | 0.09 |
| #15 | Lincoln City | 0.09 |
| #16 | Norwich City | 0.09 |
| #17 | Bristol City | 0.09 |
| #18 | Bolton Wanderers | 0.09 |
| #19 | Watford | 0.08 |
| #20 | Blackburn Rovers | 0.08 |
| #21 | Portsmouth | 0.08 |
| #22 | Burnley | 0.08 |
| #23 | Derby County | 0.07 |
| #24 | Stoke City | 0.07 |
- League avg
- 0.10
- Total
- 17.82 npxG from 167 shots
Defence
| Rank | Club | shots per match |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Swansea City | 10.8 |
| #2 | Wolverhampton | 10.9 |
| =3 | Middlesbrough | 11.0 |
| =3 | Portsmouth | 11.0 |
| =5 | West Bromwich Albion | 11.5 |
| =5 | West Ham United | 11.5 |
| #7 | Wrexham | 11.6 |
| =8 | Birmingham City | 11.7 |
| =8 | Queens Park Rangers | 11.7 |
| #10 | Bristol City | 12.0 |
| #11 | Norwich City | 12.5 |
| #12 | Bolton Wanderers | 12.8 |
| #13 | Millwall | 13.5 |
| #14 | Burnley | 14.1 |
| #15 | Derby County | 14.2 |
| #16 | Southampton | 14.7 |
| #17 | Cardiff City | 15.1 |
| #18 | Preston North End | 15.8 |
| =19 | Sheffield United | 15.9 |
| =19 | Watford | 15.9 |
| #21 | Stoke City | 16.2 |
| #22 | Lincoln City | 16.4 |
| #23 | Blackburn Rovers | 16.8 |
| #24 | Charlton Athletic | 17.1 |
- League avg
- 13.5
- Total
- 162 shots allowed from 11 matches
| Rank | Club | npxGA per shot |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Southampton | 0.08 |
| #2 | Charlton Athletic | 0.08 |
| #3 | Lincoln City | 0.08 |
| #4 | Blackburn Rovers | 0.08 |
| #5 | Wolverhampton | 0.08 |
| #6 | Sheffield United | 0.09 |
| #7 | West Ham United | 0.09 |
| #8 | Preston North End | 0.09 |
| #9 | Millwall | 0.09 |
| #10 | Middlesbrough | 0.09 |
| #11 | Stoke City | 0.09 |
| #12 | Swansea City | 0.09 |
| #13 | Wrexham | 0.09 |
| #14 | Cardiff City | 0.10 |
| #15 | Bristol City | 0.10 |
| #16 | Portsmouth | 0.10 |
| #17 | Queens Park Rangers | 0.10 |
| #18 | Birmingham City | 0.10 |
| #19 | Burnley | 0.10 |
| #20 | Watford | 0.11 |
| #21 | Derby County | 0.11 |
| #22 | West Bromwich Albion | 0.12 |
| #23 | Norwich City | 0.13 |
| #24 | Bolton Wanderers | 0.13 |
- League avg
- 0.10
- Total
- 12.20 npxGA from 162 shots
Shot profile
73% inside the box
League avg 67%
From 122 of 167 shots over 11 matches
72% allowed inside the box
League avg 67%
From 117 of 162 shots allowed over 11 matches
83% open play · 17% set pieces
League avg 28% set pieces
From 3.1 of 17.8 npxG over 11 matches
78% open play · 22% set pieces
League avg 28% set pieces
From 2.7 of 12.2 npxG allowed over 11 matches
Southampton home and away xG
| Measure | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 6 | 5 |
| xG / match | 2.04 | 1.58 |
| xGA / match | 1.36 | 1.25 |
| xGD / match | +0.68 | +0.34 |
| xPts / match Model — Model output — computed from each match's xG, not a result. How xPts works → | 1.80 | 1.64 |
Every figure divides by that half's matches with xG. A half with fewer than 3 matches with xG is muted.
Every Southampton match by xG
Away this season
- Matches
- 5
- xG / match
- 1.58
- xGA / match
- 1.25
- xGD / match
- +0.34
- Points
- 5 of 15
- Wed 14/10 Norwich City A xG 2.34 xGA 1.07 xGD +1.27 xPts 2.27
- Sat 19/09 Wrexham A Against the chances xG 2.08 xGA 0.54 xGD +1.54 xPts 2.51
- Sat 05/09 Lincoln City A Weakest underlying xG 0.77 xGA 2.27 xGD -1.50 xPts 0.39
- Tue 01/09 Birmingham City A xG 1.02 xGA 1.55 xGD -0.53 xPts 0.93
- Sun 16/08 Watford A xG 1.71 xGA 0.81 xGD +0.90 xPts 2.10
Newest first. The dot is xG and the ring is xGA, on one scale from 0 to 3.00. Best and weakest underlying mark the highest and lowest xGD once 5 matches have xG. Against the chances marks a win with xGD of −1.00 or lower, or a loss with +1.00 or higher. P marks a side with at least 0.50 xG from penalties.
Southampton in Championship
Attack
- xG / match #5 of 24
- Shots / match #6 of 24
- Chance quality #5 of 24
- Home xG #3 of 24
- Away xG #7 of 24
Defence
- xGA / match #9 of 24
- Shots allowed #16 of 24
- Chance quality allowed #1 of 24
About the data
- xG data
- Provided by TheStatsAPI, and stored as published.
- Derived metrics
- xGD, per-match rates, rankings and rolling averages are calculated from the match data.
- Model metrics
- xPts is produced by our probability model.