Team goals: Wolves must sort woeful scoring record

This season, during a relegation scrap, the figures do make for grim reading.

After 15 games, Wolves sat bottom of the league with 10 points and only eight goals to their name as they awaited Julen Lopetegui’s first game in charge.

In the following 15 games, Wolves managed to double the previously tally and score 16 goals – taking them to 24 goals over 30 games and sitting in 13th place on 31 points.

Now, as we await the final league game of the season with 37 played, Wolves still sit 13th, have 41 points and have scored just 31 goals.

That return is the worst in the Premier League as even already relegated Southampton have scored 32.

Everton are on 33, Chelsea have managed just 36, while Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest both have 37. The numbers are tight, but Wolves remain bottom for goals-scored nonetheless.

When Lopetegui arrived he consistently spoke about the importance of clean sheets and the secret to their survival this season has come from them conceding just 53 goals – but in order to progress the head coach must find a way for Wolves to be more threatening.

The style and system has a big part to play, and it remains to be seen if Lopetegui will be more expansive next season, but the personnel at his disposal have also underperformed.

Daniel Podence and Ruben Neves are the leading goalscorers in the league with six each. Hwang Hee-chan has three, Matheus Cunha and Adama Traore both have two, Diego Costa and Pablo Sarabia have one each, while Pedro Neto and Raul Jimenez have both failed to register a Premier League goal.

Even add in forward-thinking midfielder Matheus Nunes, who has often played out wide, and he also only has one goal to his name.

The individuals tasked with scoring the goals must do better, but Wolves also must create a lot more.

On average, Wolves have created just one big chance per game in the league this season and just over three shots on target.

Possession has averaged out at just over 50 per cent, but Wolves are not doing enough with the ball.

Lopetegui may have helped Wolves score more and concede less to avoid relegation, but his work has only just started in making Wolves more dangerous in front of goal.

Several players, and some forwards, are expected to depart in the summer and with Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic potential options next season, it could be a very different attacking line-up in 2023/24.

The task now, is get enough out of them to make Wolves a force to be reckoned with.