Michael Appleton
Cedes the ballSet-piece threat
36 matches · 06 Nov 2021 – 10 Jan 2026 · usually 4-3-3
1.17points per game
11-9-16won · drawn · lost
+1.7points vs expected
27%came back when trailing (22)
65%held the lead when ahead (17)
| Split | P | W | D | L | PPG | GF | GA | xG | xGA | Scored first | Won when first | Lead mins | Trail mins | Late GF | Late GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 1.17 | 1.28 | 1.50 | 2.01 | 1.89 | 39% | 64% | 20.1 | 26.0 | 0.33 | 0.36 |
| Home | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 1.12 | 1.18 | 1.29 | – | – | 47% | 62% | 21.5 | 25.5 | 0.35 | 0.24 |
| Away | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 1.21 | 1.37 | 1.68 | 2.01 | 1.89 | 32% | 67% | 18.9 | 26.4 | 0.32 | 0.47 |
10 matches · 29 Dec 2022 – 10 Jan 2026 · usually 4-3-3
1.40points per game
4-2-4won · drawn · lost
+1.7points vs expected
20%came back when trailing (5)
67%held the lead when ahead (6)
| Split | P | W | D | L | PPG | GF | GA | xG | xGA | Scored first | Won when first | Lead mins | Trail mins | Late GF | Late GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1.40 | 1.90 | 1.80 | 2.01 | 1.89 | 50% | 60% | 30.2 | 25.6 | 0.50 | 0.40 |
| Home | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1.25 | 1.75 | 1.25 | – | – | 75% | 33% | 39.3 | 18.0 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Away | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1.50 | 2.00 | 2.17 | 2.01 | 1.89 | 33% | 100% | 24.2 | 30.7 | 0.67 | 0.50 |
3 matches · 02 Nov 2025 – 10 Jan 2026 · usually 3-4-1-2
2.00points per game
2-0-1won · drawn · lost
+1.7points vs expected
50%came back when trailing (2)
100%held the lead when ahead (2)
| Split | P | W | D | L | PPG | GF | GA | xG | xGA | Scored first | Won when first | Lead mins | Trail mins | Late GF | Late GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.67 | 2.01 | 1.89 | 33% | 100% | 31.7 | 34.0 | 0.67 | 0.67 |
| Away | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.67 | 2.01 | 1.89 | 33% | 100% | 31.7 | 34.0 | 0.67 | 0.67 |
Style vs Championship peers (5-year window · 36 matches · 88 peers)
| Metric | Coach | vs peers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 1.17 | -0.20 | |
| xG difference / match | 0.12 | +0.43 | |
| Possession % | 42.6 | -1.18 | |
| Shots / match | 12.3 | +0.48 | |
| Open-play share of xG | 53% | -2.06 | + = open play, − = set pieces |
| Tackles + interceptions | 24.0 | -0.63 | |
| Fouls / match | 11.0 | +0.08 | |
| Cards / match | 2.33 | -0.21 | |
| Came back when trailing | 27% | -0.03 | of matches trailed |
| Held lead when ahead | 65% | -0.05 | of matches led |
| Substitutions / match | 3.49 | -0.86 | |
| First substitution (min) | 56.8 | -0.15 | + = later |
| Changes shape between games | 49% | +0.47 |
- Usual shape
- 4-3-3 (7 shapes used)
- First sub when trailing
- 65.1'
- First sub when leading
- 59.8'
- Makes a change before 60'
- 49% of matches
| Shape | P | Share | W | D | L | PPG | xG diff | Last used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-3-3 usual | 20 | 56% | 6 | 7 | 7 | 1.25 | – | 15 Nov 2023 |
| 4-2-3-1 | 5 | 14% | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | – | 02 Dec 2023 |
| 3-4-3 | 4 | 11% | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.50 | +3.06 | 02 Nov 2025 |
| 4-4-2 | 4 | 11% | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.75 | – | 14 Jan 2023 |
| 3-4-1-2 | 1 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | -2.22 | 10 Jan 2026 |
| 3-4-2-1 | 1 | 3% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | -0.47 | 06 Dec 2025 |
| 4-3-1-2 | 1 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | – | 29 Dec 2022 |
| Shape | P | Share | W | D | L | PPG | xG diff | Last used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-3-3 usual | 3 | 30% | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.67 | – | 15 Nov 2023 |
| 4-4-2 | 2 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.50 | – | 14 Jan 2023 |
| 3-4-1-2 | 1 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | -2.22 | 10 Jan 2026 |
| 3-4-2-1 | 1 | 10% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | -0.47 | 06 Dec 2025 |
| 3-4-3 | 1 | 10% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | +3.06 | 02 Nov 2025 |
| 4-2-3-1 | 1 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | – | 02 Dec 2023 |
| 4-3-1-2 | 1 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | – | 29 Dec 2022 |
| Shape | P | Share | W | D | L | PPG | xG diff | Last used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4-1-2 usual | 1 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | -2.22 | 10 Jan 2026 |
| 3-4-2-1 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | -0.47 | 06 Dec 2025 |
| 3-4-3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | +3.06 | 02 Nov 2025 |
4 clubs · match figures cover the last five years
| Club | From | To | P | W-D-L | PPG | vs xPts | First 10 | Predecessor | Bounce |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shrewsbury Town current |
Mar 2025 | – (to Jun 2027) | 3 | 2-0-1 | 2.00 | +1.7 | 2.00 | 1.80 | – |
 Charlton Athletic |
Sep 2023 | Jan 2024 | 3 | 1-1-1 | 1.33 | – | 1.33 | 1.67 | – |
 Blackpool |
Jun 2022 | Jan 2023 | 28 | 7-8-13 | 1.04 | – | 1.10 | 0.90 | +0.20 |
 Lincoln City |
Sep 2019 | May 2022 | 2 | 1-0-1 | 1.50 | – | 1.50 | – | – |
| Date | Comp | Opponent | Score | xG | Shape | Subs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 2026 | UK FA Cup | at WOL | 1–6 L | 0.96 · 3.18 | 3-4-1-2 | 2 (first 75') | |
| 06 Dec 2025 | UK FA Cup | at SUU | 2–1 W | 1.73 · 2.20 | 3-4-2-1 | 5 (first 62') | came back |
| 02 Nov 2025 | UK FA Cup | at SOSH | 3–1 W | 3.34 · 0.28 | 3-4-3 | 5 (first 13') |