Readers have been asking for the numbers concerning Orlando Pirates' number one striker and Kaizer Chiefs' regular targetman, so here they are!
Although Erasmus and Nkhatha are both 'strikers' on the team sheets, their styles of play are very different and the roles they play for their respective teams cannot be measured by numbers – unless they are only being judged on goals scored.
What can be determined by statistics is that Erasmus scores at a twice better shots-to-goals ratio than Nkhatha – meaning Erasmus scores a goal every five shots while Nkhatha scores a goal every 10 shots.
Erasmus, who can also take up wide areas and create goals for his teammates with his dynamic movement, plays more passes into the opposing penalty area and also dribbles and crosses more often than Nkhatha.
Interestingly, while Nkhatha has been labelled a "defensive striker" in banter between fans, it should be noted that Erasmus actually makes twice the number of tackles per game than the Zimbabwean.
Nkhatha also plays more forward passes than Erasmus and has a much better successful forward pass percentage (76 percent to 57 percent).
READ: STATS Yeye vs Oupa (Part 2)
And then there is the one statistic that matters the most for strikers: Erasmus has five goals while Nkhatha has two.
Which man will make the difference in the Derby on Saturday night, and will it be via a goal scored or something else they've done on the pitch to create a goal for a teammate?
Season averages:
Erasmus Nkhatha
Total Shots Taken 27 20
Goals 5 2
Shots to Goals Ratio 5.4 10
Assists 1 0
*Stats below are averages per game
Matches Played 9 8
Time On Pitch 81.3 79.2
Shots Per Game 3 2.5
Shots On Target 1.44 1
Shooting Accuracy % 48,15 40
Passes Per Game 17.33 18.38
Successful Passes 13.33 15.88
% Successful Passes 76.92 86.39
Forward Passes 3.89 4.13
% Succ. Fwd Passes 57.14 75.76
Passes Into Final 3rd 1.44 2.25
Passes Into Pen Area 3.33 1.25
Succ. Passes Into Area 1.11 0.63
Crosses 1.89 0.38
Dribbles 1 0.13
Balls Received 26.11 25.63
Number of touches 64.11 58.5
Tackles 1.78 0.88
Interceptions 1.67 3.5
Possession Won 3.56 4.5
Possession Lost 13.89 11.13
Fouls 0.67 1.25
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