Crystal Palace 1 Wolves 1: Nicked a point? Statistics show Wolves deserved it

According to data from whoscored.com – specialists in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data – the two sides could not be separated in many fields and importantly, when it comes to shot conversion rate.

So was Palace chief Roy Hodgson wrong with his claims that Palace dropped a deserved two points?

Even split

The statistics show that Wolves and Palace could not be separated in two of the key performance indicators – possession and conversion rates of chances. Despite Wolves facing the final 20 minutes without Romain Saiss after his second yellow card, the two sides could not be split on possession.

Wolves and Palace enjoyed a 50 per cent split of possession across the 90 minutes.

When it comes to pass accuracy, Hodgson’s side only just out-performed Nuno Espirito Santo’s men with a 79 per cent pass completion rate compared to Wolves’ 77 per cent.

But the true story of the game is told in the shot conversion rate statistics.

Palace had 14 shots with Wolves just one behind on 13. But Palace only found the net when Joel Ward’s strike cannoned in off Leander Dendoncker in the 46th minute.

While Wolves had to wait until the fourth minute of injury time to finally find a clinical touch in front of goal.

Both finished the game with a seven percent conversion rate.

So after sharing possession and failing to convert virtually the same amount of chances a point it seems is a fair result.

The nature of Wolves’ last gasp leveller though did make it feel like a defeat for Palace and a victory for Wolves.

But given the way Nuno’s side performed in the first 45 minutes and their never-say-die spirit a draw, even in the eyes of the stats, appears a fair result.

A worrying statistic

We saw on Thursday night that Wolves have no problem creating chances, though Patrick Cutrone was guilty of wasting numerous opportunities in the 1-0 defeat to Braga.

And on Sunday it was a case of Wolves paying the price for failing to score while on top.

Palace only mustered one shot in the first half compared to Wolves’ eight.

Palace scoring from just their second strike – one that ended up taking a deflection off Dendoncker – was a tale that played out against Braga too.

Braga scored from their second attempt as Ricardo Horta swept home the only goal of the game in the Europa League clash.

But lightning struck twice at Palace as Wolves conceded from the opposition’s second attempt yet again.

The chances then flowed for Hodgson’s side, especially after Saiss’s red card.

But the stats also show Wolves remain prone to opposition attempts at goal.

Wing wizardry

Nuno’s shift from a 3-5-2 to a 3-4-3 paid dividends, especially in the first half.

And it was no surprise that the eventual Wolves goal came from the right flank.

With Adama Traore on the right of a front three and Matt Doherty taking on an advanced wing-back, wide midfield role the stats show that Wolves’ attacking play was mainly from that wing.

While Jota and Jonny also put in shifts in the wide left roles it was an afternoon that saw Wolves utilise their wings.

The statistics showing that 43 percent of Wolves’ attacking play on their right wing, 37 percent on the left and just 20 percent of the attacking play through the middle.

Though the right was also that area that saw Saiss pick up his second booking with Wolves pushing bodies across to deal with the threat of Wilfried Zaha on Palace’s left flank. Though the wing play would eventually pay off when Traore’s cross was converted by Jota.