Boss Mick McCarthy is delighted that opposition managers see the Blues as a potent threat from set pieces.

Reading boss Nigel Adkins and Birmingham manager Lee Clark both commented on the height in the Town side and the Blues' potency from freekicks and corners, although McCarthy says teams tend to be bigger in the Championship these days.

Town came within a whisker of claiming a point at the Madejski Stadium when Tyrone Mings's late header was diverted onto the bar from Paul Anderson’s corner.

Then at St Andrew’s on Tuesday Christophe Berra’s first equaliser came from an Anderson freekick.

“It’s part of the game, isn’t it?” McCarthy said. “I stand in the tunnel with both sets of players and I used to get called ‘Big Man’ when I was up in Scotland, but I don’t know where that came from, I’m smaller than most of them in both teams.

“I didn’t see any of the Birmingham back four that were midgets. Did anybody see any small ones in their back four or their centre forwards, who won lots of headers?

“I think they’ve got a fairly big team, Lee Novak must be 6ft 1in tall, so I think that’s a bit of a [exaggeration] to say we’re a huge team.

“And apparently we have the smallest player in the league [Jay Tabb], who despite that gets his foot stuck in, according to the Birmingham programme.

“It’s part of the game, freekicks and corners, throw-ins whatever it is. However you can score your goals, it doesn’t matter to me how we get them.”

Meanwhile, Town striker Jack Marriott was pleased to make his Carlisle debut as they drew 0-0 at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old, who was replaced after 82 minutes, joined the Cumbrians on a month’s loan earlier in the week.

“It was good to be involved at Cheltenham,” he told the Carlisle official website. “This is a move I’ve looked forward to because I feel I’m ready to play league football.

“I loved my time at Woking and I’ve got a lot of time for that club because they did a lot for me.

“However, I’m now ready for the challenge of League Two then, hopefully, I’ll get back into the Ipswich Town first team.”

Photo: Action Images

76blue added 07:27 - Aug 21 We have quite a few big strong lads in the team who will get goals throuout the season. Hopefully set pieces go our way Saturday #COYB
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Blue_Again added 08:05 - Aug 21 Great bodes well for a future of Shiite punt football looking for set pieces. Don't want to be like Bolton under Sam allerdice big and boring to watch.
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tractorkent added 08:13 - Aug 21 I 100% agree with Blue again. Mind you I will take any win agaisnt Narwich. For the rest of the season though i want to be entertained by playing attractive football .
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tractorkent added 08:24 - Aug 21 if they win on Saturday i don't care if if the football is boring. However I mind greatly about the style of football played for the rest of the season
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Stato added 08:29 - Aug 21 We have become the new Stoke and it won't put bums on seats. With Mick, no party.
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Pessimistic added 08:39 - Aug 21 I agree with most of the comments here. To beat the yellow shirts is the top priority this weekend but I do fear that we are starting to play and even look like the Stoke of the Cmhampionship and under Mick the Man this is the way it will be.
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bedsitfc added 09:03 - Aug 21 Scoring from a set - piece is not a disgrace!!! Do you barca will refuse to score from one.
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bedsitfc added 09:05 - Aug 21 Think ^^^
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Hong_Kong_Blue added 09:06 - Aug 21 Please stop with this "purist" nonsense. If Mick gets Ipswich into the top two this season, the ground will be full the place will be rocking and every free-kick or corner will be greeted with a massive cheer. Just understand we need to get out of this division. Really.
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alfromcol added 09:20 - Aug 21 Hong_Kong_Blue At least someone is talking sense. There's more boring stuff on hear than on the pitch at PR.
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bluebare added 09:27 - Aug 21 Makes me wonder why at corners we leave Mings back and not someone smaller. I know he has pace but he will occupy a defender. Also why when we defend a corner we don't leave someone on the halfway line for when the ball is cleared. Otherwise the ball just comes straight back at us.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 09:30 - Aug 21 He's not said he ONLY wants to score from set pieces. Even the best teams in the world would be better if they scored more from set pieces. We were good against Fulham and scored two great open play goals. Had we added one from a corner it wouldn't have been a nervy finish. Stop casting around for something negative to say.
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hogster1970 added 09:38 - Aug 21 its called percentage football, for years we could score from a set peice now we can, just need to devolope the scoring in free play like we did against fulham
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MattinLondon added 09:47 - Aug 21 All these comments about becoming Stoke are missing the point. Before Tony Pullis took charge at Stoke they were averaging around 10,11k per season in the Championship - they are now getting full houses and are considered fantastic supporters by other Premier League clubs. Stoke played to their strengths and in so doing have now become part of the PL - Pullis changed his style as he realised that in order to survive he needed a bit more. I don't see anything wrong in using the Stoke's formula in order to get promoted - I just doubt MM ability to change his style as I think he values running around aimlessly a bit too much.

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JimmyJazz added 10:12 - Aug 21 No Mick, No Party
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bohslegend added 10:20 - Aug 21 The hypocrisy in some of the commentary on here is incredible. "I dont care how we play on Saturday so long as we beat Norwich - but for every other game I want us playing like Barcelona". If it's the right way to play to beat Norwich (or at least not the wrong way) why shouldn't it be okay to beat everyone else with whatever tactical approach works? If we win, how can that be boring???? Are you lot saying that if we were climbing the table at a rate of knots beating everyone in sight using a direct approach, you wouldn't other going to see the team??? Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Great manager/management. Finally we have a chance to progress, but for some it needs to be 2 things: 1). Immediate 2). with panache. Get back to your XBox boys, you're living in fantasy land.

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bohslegend added 10:20 - Aug 21 *bother
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Blue_Again added 10:46 - Aug 21 Tish and pish
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BobbyBell added 10:51 - Aug 21 I've never known any team to get awarded points for pretty football. You get points for scoring more goals than the other team. We've had years of crap corners and wasted freekicks but now we are a threat idiots on here are moaning about it!!! Rest assured if we're scoring and winning, however it's done, the fans will come and watch. Muhammed Ali danced and Mike Tyson scrapped but they both got the crowds chearing.

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blueherts added 11:01 - Aug 21 Arsenal were supposedly the 'complete football team' assembled at great expense - how many league titles did they win in the last 8 years ? I laugh when people still say 'play the ipswich way - on that great pitch' Yes it is great to hear but we are talking 30 years ago !! I think Football has moved on abit since ! Money and Money oh and More Money is the driver - SKY , BT , BARCLAYS etc if MM builds a team ( at no expense) and we win games- especially this Saturday - will this board be full of 'well we won against the scum , but it was not how I want us to play' Tosh - Mick has assembled a decent squad and added some width - it is just a shame Stewart got whacked pre season He will be a threat and with Parr back and DM back fit in afew games and a new Creative Mid - things will be good ! I would love 3 punts , 3 headers , 3-0 thanks very much on saturday

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ITFC_Cairo added 11:05 - Aug 21 The hipocrisy on this page is unbelievable. For years we haven't been able to regularly beat the first man. We are finally getting recognition from other clubs about our strength in the air and from set pieces and now you are all complaining. How long have we bemoaned our small team? We now have height, let's use it! We played good football against Fulham and for the most part against Reading. Mick is finding a good balance between the direct approach that wins matches at this level and good quality football. Not many teams pass the other off the park in the C'ship, especailly on the budget we have. Have faith in MM and TC! We are the best we have been for years but there's no pleasing some.

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BlueMachines added 11:18 - Aug 21 Nowhere in the story does MM appear to be 'delighted' that we are a set piece threat! None of the comments that are quoted seem to suggest anything other than us being the norm!
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TractorWood added 13:06 - Aug 21 Being a threat from a set piece is a great thing, especially late in games and is something I think we are. However, we have to be conscious of winning the second ball when its cleared and not being hugely exposed on the counter. Being a threat from set pieces doesn't necessarily mean we are a long ball team, we need to mix up our play or we will be one dimensional. I think Henshall and in the future, Jack Marriott will help us be balanced.

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HALLSJ added 13:18 - Aug 21 MattinLondon, as someone who lives in Stoke, I agree. The last time Stoke played Town I was there. The season Stoke went up, 12k crowd we lost to a goal 15mins from time, Stoke were poor, now they are looking a top 10 Prem side in general. That would do for me.
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Toronto_Tractor added 13:49 - Aug 21 I personally don't give a monkeys how we get the ball in the back of the net or we move up the league just as long as we do so. We are not in a position to have our cake and eat it, I.e. Score pretty goals and win comfortably. That said, I have been day dreaming about a certain Alex Mathie hatrick and Bobby Petta brace with judgment day looming. What are they up to these days? And are they free Saturday? COYB

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