We don't score many goals. For all of the good work Ireland have done on the defensive side of the game in this campaign, our attack has been largely toothless. Six goals in seven games tells its own story, with our lack of goals proving to be a major obstacle in our attempt to qualify for Euro 2020.
While Switzerland and Denmark are two very good sides, finding the back of the net only four times in four games against Gibraltar and Georgia is criminal.
If we fail to reach next summer's finals, lack of goals will be the reason why. When you look at the stats, our failings are all the more frustrating.
1.This is likely to be our lowest scoring qualifying campaign since 1986
Unless Ireland can manage four goals on Monday night, this will be our lowest scoring campaign in 33 years. That also includes campaigns in which Ireland played only six games.
The dire attempt to qualify for the 1986 World Cup saw Ireland score only five goals in eight games in a group that featured Denmark (UEFA law states we have to play the Danes in every campaign), the Soviet Union, Switzerland, and Norway.
We would win two of our eight games, home victories over the Soviet Union and Switzerland.
2. 12 players have scored at least the same amount of goals as Ireland
When you're getting outscored by individual players, you know you have a problem. Ireland's six goals has been matched by 12 players in this campaign, seven of whom have managed to top that mark.
Harry Kane and Eran Zahavy are the top scorers in qualifying, with the Israeli managing to score all 11 of his goals from open play.
3. Only 14 teams have scored fewer goals
Of the 54 teams in Euro 2020 qualifying, only 14 have scored fewer goals than Ireland. Most of those teams are minnows, while the likes of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Albania have been more potent in attack than Mick McCarthy's side.
4. Our strikers have a grand sum of one goal between them
Not great. David McGoldrick is the only Irish striker to find the back of the net in this group, scoring the equaliser in the draw against Switzerland. Sean Maguire, Callum Robinson, Scott Hogan, and James Collins have all featured but have yet to score.
5. Ireland have only registered 24 shots on target in the group
It's hard to score when you can't get a shot on target. 24 shots at the opposition goal in seven games is a pretty dire number and certainly contributes to our low scoring numbers. That's 3.4 per game for those of you counting.
The seven shots on target in the home tie against Gibraltar is the highest mark, the only occasion we managed more than four in a game.
