Ipswich Town boss listens to Erol Bulut warning ahead of Cardiff City clash

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has headed the warning from Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut ahead of Saturday’s clash in South Wales.

The Bluebirds may be nowhere near the standard set by the Tractor Boys this season, with McKenna’s men currently in second place, but they are the Championship’s best team when it comes to scoring from set-pieces.

No team has managed more than the 18 goals scored by Cardiff from set-pieces, and Bulut highlighted that after City scored from a corner to defeat Bristol City last weekend. He said: “We started good. We finished good. The goal is from a set-piece again and I know we are one of the best teams with set-pieces. It was a game where who scored the first goal was going to win the game, and we did and we kept it at zero, so all good.”

Ahead of his side’s clash with Cardiff on Saturday lunchtime, Ipswich boss McKenna has said: “I’m sure that set-plays are plays are going to be absolutely decisive in the game. They’re very strong on them. Cardiff are not far off the play-offs and I think 40/50% of their goals have come from set plays. 

“Set-pieces have been pretty decisive for us over the last few weeks too. Everyone sees the clean ones, like the second goal the other night against Bristol (City), where its a really good delivery and a well-taken header by Conor (Chaplin). But it’s also about the second phase ones.  

“The second goal against Plymouth is one we took great satisfaction in. People probably see it as a great strike by Kieffer (Moore), or a bit scrappy, but it’s a really well-worked goal in terms of how we locked down the edge of the box, recycled the ball wide, delivered into a dangerous area, kept the bodies in the right area, and recycled it really well for a shot. So many Championship games are decided on very thin margins. Set plays are often those margins.”