A LACK OF GOALS COULD BE COSTLY

Ex-england marksman fears lack of a No. 9 could hit Swans hard

KEVIN Phillips says Swansea City’s lack of goals could significantly dent their promotion hopes.

The Swans have lost four matches on the bounce to fall 10 points behind second-placed Watford with just seven matches of the regular season left to play.

Steve Cooper’s men have not scored a single goal in their previous four outings, while they failed to register a shot on target in their 1-0 defeat by Preston North End at the Liberty Stadium on Monday.

And former England striker Phillips says the Swans’ lack of an out-and-out No. 9 this season could prove fatal.

“For me, Bournemouth get in the play-offs. Whether they go up, it’s a lottery once you get in there,” Phillips said on EFL on Quest.

“I worry about Swansea. When I look at the other teams, there’s goals in those sides.

“Swansea just don’t score enough goals. Yes, they’re four points ahead of

Bournemouth but I worry for them, let’s put it that way.

“When you’re up against don’t get the rub of the green.

“At the minute they’re up against it. They’ve got to find a way of winning a football match and get their confidence back.

“They have got some good players, but it does worry me that they’ve not got that goal-scorer in amongst their squad.”

Seventh-placed Bournemouth are just one point adrift of the top six and are being widely tipped to challenge it you in the play-offs having won their last three Championship games in a row.

Phillips’s fellow pundit Richie Wellens said: “I’m saying Bournemouth go up. If I was a betting man, I would put my money on Bournemouth going up.

“I would imagine Steve Cooper has not had many spells in his managerial career like this so it’s a good test of his character.”

Swansea return to action against Millwall on Saturday (12.30pm). ■

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