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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

Swansea City's best performers and 'weak' concerns as contract need laid bare

Swansea City remain firmly in the mix to challenge for a play-off spot at the midway stage of the Championship season.

The Swans are 11th in the table ahead of their trip to Reading on Tuesday but are just two points adrift of sixth-placed Queens Park Rangers after 23 games.

But who have been the best performers of the campaign so far? Here's what the statistics say.

READ MORE: Russell Martin's Swansea City team selection has never been so important as starting XI in spotlight for Reading

Joel Piroe struck in the 68th minute to kick-start what proved to be a sensational comeback at Coventry City last time out while it saw him return to the top of the scoring charts. The Dutchman now has six goals to his name this season which is one more than Olivier Ntcham while Michael Obafemi, Harry Darling, Ollie Cooper and Ryan Manning are all on three apiece.

Captain Matt Grimes has been hugely influential from the middle of the park once again, and his tally of five assists is two more than Manning's tally of three. Such is his importance under the current regime, the central midfielder also has the most minutes of Championship action this term.

Grimes has 1,980 minutes under his belt in the league, with Piroe (1,748), Nathan Wood (1,727), Ben Cabango (1,678) and Manning (1,668) being the next most used players. The 27-year-old also makes an average of 97.8 passes per-game which is way more than the next best challenger Ben Cabango who averages 72.2 per-game.

His pass success rate of 91.5% is among the best in the division, although Darling's total (91.7%) is marginally higher. But it's Joel Latibeaudiere who tops the table in that regard with a pass success rate of 92.2%.

As evidenced by his goals and assists, Ryan Manning, largely operating at left wing-back, has proven to be a real attacking force this term. The Republic of Ireland international's average of 2.2 key passes per-game is the best in the squad while he also wins an average of two fouls per-game and makes 2.3 crosses per-game, both of which are the most in the team.

Such is Swansea's dominance of the ball, their midfield men are pivotal to the defensive work. Matt Grimes, Joe Allen and Ollie Cooper all make an average of 1.4 tackles per-game while Ryan Manning's 1.3 interceptions per-game puts him marginally ahead of Wood (1.1 per-game) and Cabango (one per-game).

As far as other defensive duties are concerned, Ben Cabango averages 3.8 clearances per-match which is one more than Darling and 1.3 more than Nathan Wood. Harry Darling makes, on average, 0.8 blocks per-game in the league.

There is undoubtedly plenty for Russell Martin and his coaching staff to work on over the course of the second-half of the season.

The head coach also remains determined to see Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere - who are both out-of-contract in the summer - sign new deals with the club. The statistics certainly back-up Manning's importance to the side given his significant contribution to several different aspects of the Swans' play.

With regards to the team as a whole, stats gurus WhoScored? highlight 'creating long shot opportunities' and 'coming back from losing positions' as very strong characteristics of the current squad. Following their dramatic draw at Coventry, Swansea have now accumulated 14 points from losing positions this season, the joint-most in the division alongside Burnley.

They also note that 'creating chances using through balls' and 'protecting the lead' as strong strengths. Indeed, the Swans are unbeaten in eight Championship games when they have scored first this season, winning six and drawing two.

However, the list of weaknesses are rather concerning. The key problem is said to be 'stopping opponents from creating chances' while 'defending counter attacks' and 'avoiding individual errors' are both listed among the weaknesses.

An addition or two in the January transfer window could prove pivotal as far as Swansea's aspirations of finishing in the top six are concerned, and, while results have been frustrating of late, head coach Martin knows only too well that his side are capable of mixing it up with the best in the division.

(Stats courtesy of WhoScored? Correct at time of publishing)

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