Early goals do not always open the floodgates

Charlie Austin scored after 41 seconds for Southampton against Everton. Nobody scored in the rest of the match. That was only one match, though, and it might have been unusual. Generally speaking, does an early goal have an influence on scoring in the rest of a match – and if so, how?

Many football fans believe an early goal raises the number of goals scored later. Are they right?

I looked at Premier and Football League games played in the last 19 seasons, 1997-98 to 2015-16.

When there was a goal in the first minute, the average number of goals scored in the other 89 minutes was 2.63. When there was no goal in the first minute, the average number of goals scored in the other 89 minutes was 2.57.

These numbers are almost the same. On average slightly more goals were scored after a first minute goal than after a first minute without a goal. Only ever so slightly more, however. The difference was equivalent to one goal for every 16 or 17 games in each category.

And it might be explained by the type of game in each category. Early goals came in games that were likely to produce more goals anyway.

Overall in these games the difference in league position between teams was wider than average and most of the early goals were scored by the higher-placed participant. These games should have been less evenly balanced than others. And therefore likely to generate more goals.

As I often say, the greater the difference in ability between two teams the higher the score is likely to be.

Let’s allow play to develop a bit more and then take another look. How does the number of goals scored in the first half affect the number of goals scored in the second half?

Again I looked at Premier and Football League games from the last 19 seasons. The average number of goals scored in the first half was 1.1.

After a first half with no goals or one goal, the average number of goals scored in the second half was 1.42. After a first half with two goals or more, the average number of goals scored in the second half was 1.50.

On average more goals were scored after a high-scoring first half than after a low score one. But again the difference was small. It was equivalent to one goal for every 12 or 13 games in each category. And again it might be explained, at least in part, by the type of game in each category.

Perhaps the best way to put it is like this. Does the number of goals scored so far influence the number of goals that will be scored in the rest of the match? Not in any way you should be able to notice with the naked eye.

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Teams tightest at the very start