The crazy numbers behind Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goals

Some combinations just go perfectly together, don’t they? Cheese and crackers, Lennon and McCartney, Maldini and Nesta. Time to add Aleksandar Mitrovic and the Championship to that list.

His record at second tier level was impressive in itself, but this season he’s taken it to a whole new level. 

 

Blitzing records 

Prior to this season, no player had scored more than 31 goals in a Championship season - Mitrovic did it in 29 games and still has nearly a quarter of the campaign in hand. 

With 35 goals notched up so far, averaging a goal a game, he’s looking good value to break Guy Whittingham’s modern day second tier record of 42 goals in a season. 

If he continues on his current trend and avoids injury or suspension, Whittingham’s tally will be a thing of the past. 

However, he’s got some way to go to break the all-time record, George Camsell’s total of 59 goals in 1926/27 for Middlesbrough will likely never be topped. 

Mitrovic’s numbers by 21st century standards are still staggering - he’s scored more goals than three Championship sides, has only failed to find the net in 10 league matches and has even contributed 7 assists. 

 

 

Menace for defences 

One might assume that Mitrovic’s tally is largely helped by having Premier League quality players setting him up. While true, it doesn’t do justice how dangerous his movement off the ball is. 

The Serbian’s averaging 0.86 expected goals per 90 minutes, by far the highest in the Championship and only one other player has more than 0.7 per 90 (Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke). 

It’s difficult to keep him quiet as well, he’s managed a shot in every league game and only on 6 occasions has a side restricted him to fewer than 3 efforts. 

He’s recorded 155 shots; only two other players have more than 100.  

Fulham themselves have been a cut above in this aspect this season, with them averaging more shots than any other side with 16.2 shots per game. Marco Silva’s side will also have their sights set on a record-breaking goalscoring season as they have already hit the back of the net 90 times.  

If they continue on their current trajectory of 2.43 goals per game, they will finish the season with an astonishing 112 goals scored. 

  

Astonishingly clinical finishing 

So the guy has a lot of shots, surely every striker’s going to have that many goals when they shoot that much right? You could not be more wrong. 

Mitrovic’s shot conversion rate is an unbelievable 19%. To put that into context, only one other Championship player with more than 50 shots has a better rate (Bristol City’s Andi Weimann). 

With the Fulham hitman all but guaranteed to be returning to the Premier League, the Cottagers will be hoping he carries his form into next season. 

Considering his best tally in a top-flight campaign is just 11 goals, he’ll see that as the very least he should be getting. 

 

Dominant in the air 

Considering that Fulham rank 23rd in the Championship for long balls per 90 with just 56, Mitrovic still ranks well when it comes to his aerial ability.  

Mitrovic averaged 2.9 aerial duels per 90, which ranks him second to only Tosin Adarabioyo in the Fulham squad this season.  

The Serbian striker has also scored 10 headers this season, which is double the amount of any other Championship player with Dom Solanke, Elijah Adebayo and Matt Crooks having all scored five.  

It’s been no secret that Harry Wilson has developed a fantastic partnership with Fulham’s main man throughout the season as he has assisted six of Mitrovic’s 35 goals.