Southampton & Burnley men among most unfortunate in Premier League

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Southampton, Crystal Palace and Burnley forwards among those to have struck the woodwork most times in Premier League competition.

If asked to pick out Premier League success stories from the 2014/15 campaign so far, Graziano Pelle would be expected to figure prominently on any shortlists drawn up.

The burly frontman has slipped seamlessly into English top-flight life, with Southampton acquiring his services for a fraction of the transfer funds they generated from high-profile sales last summer.

Pelle, who has forced his way into the Italy squad on the back of his efforts for the Saints, has plundered 12 goals in all competitions, with eight of those coming in the league.

Things could, however, have been even better.

The 29-year-old can consider himself to be the most unfortunate frontman in the Premier League, with the frame of the goal denying him on more occasions than any of his colleagues or rivals.

Yannick Bolasie is another of those to have earned plenty of plaudits this season, with the Crystal Palace winger showing himself to a direct, yet tricky, performer on the flanks.

Goals are something he clearly needs to add to his game, having managed just one so far, but he has struck the woodwork four times and will be cursing his luck.

Ashley Barnes boasts similar numbers, suggesting that Burnley could have had more support for Danny Ings – another of those to figure in the Opta table above – while Enner Valencia will feel he could have offered an even greater return on the investment made in him by West Ham United.