Iwan Roberts feels Swansea City’s failure to find a replacement for Joel Piroe has been the biggest reason behind the club’s struggles in front of goal.
Dutch striker Piroe was sold to Leeds United in August 2023 having scored 46 goals in 96 appearances across all competitions for the Swans.
Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates ended the 2023-24 campaign as Swansea’s joint-top scorers with just nine goals each across all competitions.
This term, Swansea’s struggles have worsened – with Luke Williams’ men scoring just eight goals in 12 league games so far, the worst return in the Championship.
“I think it’s [lack of goals] been a big problem for the club since Joel Piroe left for Leeds,” Roberts told Radio Cymru’s Dros Frecwast.
“Last season, their top scorers were Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates, they scored nine each, that’s such a low total.”
Former Wales striker Roberts does have some sympathy for Swansea’s forward players though, and stressed the club’s midfielders need to have more of an impact in the final third.
He added: “You look now, [Zan] Vipotnik has scored one in 11 [Championship games], [Liam] Cullen two in nine, Ronald none in 12, he’s only scored three in 30 since joining the club, two of those came in the same game. Eom [Ji-sung], no goals in nine, [Ollie] Cooper one in 12.
“I don’t see any of those players going on to score more than 10 goals this season. That’s why they’re in the situation they’re in.
“They’re lucky the defence is performing well, but there has to be a responsibility on the players in the middle of the pitch.
“Is Matt Grimes doing enough to get up the pitch? Are [Goncalo] Franco and Jay Fulton? I don’t think those players are contributing enough in terms of goals.”