How Aberdeen are overperforming attacking data – but is it sustainable?

Jimmy Thelin has had to get a lot right to ensure his Aberdeen side remain locked on points with Celtic at the Premiership summit.

And one thing the Swede is certainly benefitting from amid a stunning league start is an attack that continues to overperform their underlying numbers.

With 24 goals netted across 11 games, the Dons are the division’s second highest scorers by quite some distance at this early stage.

Where that figure becomes more impressive, though, is the fact it has been accumulated alongside an expected goals tally of 15.5.

Effectively, that means Aberdeen have scored almost nine times more than expected based on the quality of chances they have created.

As the sample size increases, that points to a clinical attack – especially given four teams have had more touches in the opposition box and three have had more shots on target.

But a glass-half-empty view will worry whether this is sustainable as these numbers can tend to even out across the course of an entire campaign.

However, maintaining their shot conversion rate of 17% – the division’s highest – should help to avoid a decline.

In addition to that, their big chance conversion of 54% is considerably higher than Celtic’s (30%).

These minor statistical wins over the reigning champions, who only lead the table on goal difference, could prove to be significant if Thelin’s men are to keep pace.