Mat Ryan versus Fraser Forster: stats comparison

Mat Ryan's Brighton and Hove Albion go in search of a second successive English Premier League win this weekend when they host Southampton on Monday morning (AEDT).

But how does the Caltex Socceroos custodian compare with his opposite - Saints and England 'keeper Fraser Forster?

Both have played every minute of their side's respective league campaigns, so we've crunched the stats to find out...

SAVES

Brighton have conceded ten goals this season and Southampton nine.

Forster has made slightly more saves with 28 compared to Ryan's 26.

The Englishman has saved 75% of the shots fired his way, while the Australian's metric is 72.2%.

But with shots from outside the box, Ryan has a 100% record, having repelled all 12 long-distance efforts launched at his goal.

Fraser Forster has made 28 saves in the EPL so far this season.
Fraser Forster has made 28 saves in the EPL so far this season.

PASSING

Ryan has been by far the busier with his feet, making 260 passes, compared to Forster's 183.

Of those 260 passes, 211 have been long passes, while 126 of Forster's 183 have been over long distance.

The Caltex Socceroos #1 is slightly more accurate overall, with 52.3% of his passes finding a team-mate, compared to 51.9% for Forster.

But when it comes to long passes, Ryan is far superior, with 42.2% accuracy compared to 31.8% for the Southampton stopper.

Mat Ryan has kept three clean sheets from nine EPL games this season.
Mat Ryan's distribution is a huge feature of his game for Brighton and the Caltex Socceroos.

PUNCHING, CATCHING AND PENALTIES

Neither 'keeper is a renowned puncher of the ball; in fact Forster hasn't employed a single punch all season, while Ryan has punched just twice.

Ryan has caught 13 crosses, far more than Forster's three.

But the England international is one of just three goalkeepers to have saved a penalty this season, along with Liverpool's Simon Mignolet and Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel.

Ryan has faced only one penalty, a 90th minute spot-kick from Wayne Rooney which earned Everton a 1-1 draw against the Seagulls two weeks ago.