Not Creating, Not Scoring: Has Benteke Lost His Touch?

Last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Cardiff was a first win in five for Aston Villa, and they travel to West Bromwich Albion on Monday night looking for only their second pair of back to back victories this season. Such indifferent form of recent weeks has coincided with a dry spell for their talismanic striker Christian Benteke, around whom the team’s attacking play is based. 

Benteke started the season well, with four goals in his opening four games, but hasn’t scored since 14^th September. Villa as an attacking unit are reliant upon Benteke, and had gone four games without a goal before last weekend.

 

The Belgian striker saw his good start to the season cut short by injury, and has subsequently gone on to experience a campaign of two halves.

Benteke Before Injury

Prior to his injury, Benteke made four appearances, scoring four goals from nine shots on goal. Of these nine shots, 78% were on target and 44% found their way to the back of the net.

Benteke Since Injury

 Since his injury Benteke has actually averaged more shots per minute, despite his goal drought. He has taken 11 shots in 300 minutes on the pitch, meaning he has averaged a shot every 27 minutes. Prior to his injury he averaged one every 43 minutes.

However – unfortunately for Benteke – these shots aren’t often troubling the goalkeeper. None of them have gone in, and only 55% of them have hit the target.

Benteke Performance Score 2013/14

Benteke’s Squawka Performance Score has also tailed off, suggesting that his overall play is also not of the standard that it was pre-injury. He hasn’t posted a positive performance score since 21^st September, recording a -8 score last weekend despite a 2-0 win.

One aspect of that is his chance creation. As the central focal point of the Villa forward line, and given his physique, Benteke is expected to provide when he is not scoring. In the four games since his injury he has created five chances – a number he achieved in 153 minutes at the beginning of the season.

Benteke MOTM v WBA

While maintaining the standards set that he set at the start of the season – and last season – was always going to be tough, it is clear that the Belgian is out of sorts at the moment.  Villa will be hoping that he can turn it around soon, starting at the Hawthorns.

The ground proved to be a happy hunting ground for Benteke last season, as he scored in a man of the match display that he will be hoping to repeat tonight.