Departing caretaker-manager Ian McParland says Arsenal’s high defensive line was key to the Blues’ 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final first leg victory over the Gunners at Portman Road last night. The coach, who cleared his desk at the club before last night’s game, is expected to be told he is no longer required at the club with new boss Paul Jewell taking charge from this morning.

McParland, who switched the Blues to a 4-5-1 formation with Mark Kennedy in the midfield holding role after Sunday's mauling at Chelsea, said: “We looked Arsenal on the DVDs and was saw that they hold a high line, a very high line. We wanted to hit diagonal balls in behind the full-backs for Carlos and Connor to get down the sides and turn them and get them going towards their own goal.

“We knew we’d have to hit them on the counter-attack as we knew we weren’t going to keep the ball because they are a fantastic team. To be fair, our boys did fantastically.”

The man known universally as Charlie says the squad he’s leaving behind are better than their current position of 19th in the Championship. Citing the Coventry, Swansea and Nottingham Forest matches, the 49-year-old believes that had only a few more results gone in the Blues’ favour Roy Keane would still be at the club.

“There are small dividing lines in football. Another two or three wins and the gaffer would still be in a job and we’d be in touching distance of the play-offs,” he said.

“But that’s football nowadays. Fans get edgy, owners get edgy. On the phone-ins, the first thing is, ‘What about the manager?’ People give them a call, ‘Roy’s crap…’. Let’s go.

“They’re a good bunch of lads, a nice bunch, too nice sometimes,” he continued, echoing a familiar theme from Keane’s press conferences. “They need a few characters in there to mingle with the boys that are here and then they’ll kick on and they’ll be fine.”

Asked whether he’ll be at the second leg at the Emirates, the Scot says he might have other things on his mind: “Hopefully, I’ll have another job by then!”

Meanwhile, Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has somewhat bizarrely suggested Town won due to playing tactics more akin to the oval ball game: “I don't know if it is long ball or it is a rugby kick but it worked for them.

“In England, a lot of teams play like that and it works for them, they create chances like that and it is their football. We just have to put the ball on the floor and try to play football.

“Credit to them because they played well but Arsenal played the football, the other team refused to play football, they were lucky to score with a long ball.

“Still, we played well. We were good enough but just did not put the ball in the back of the net. I can remember only two opportunities for them but it was from a long, long ball because when they were playing football they could not really get in behind us.

“It is a disappointing because we were the much better team but it was one of those nights.”

Photo: Action Images

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:29 - Jan 13 I remarked to the Arse fan I happened to be standing against in the pub's - well you know where - after the game that at least it was a very clean game and both sides tried to play football. Then I read this ridiculous comment by Fabregas. I think his pathetic whingeing might partly have been down to the fact that Norris bumped into him, completely accidently, on one occasion as he (Norris) ran back downfield. Fabregas reacted to this "assault" like a sulky, overpaid PL prima donna - hang on a minute....! Come on man, your team just couldn't hack it on the day. You'll no doubt run us over at the E's, but we'll take it on the chin; we won't whinge. All credit to the Arse fans whose table I sat at, by the way. They said we deserved the victory.

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TractorBeezer added 14:35 - Jan 13 Horses for courses, Fab. Long balls are ok if they aren't just hopeful punts and as Sir Bobby always said it can be the most direct route when used appropriately. Thought that Arsene's interview on BBC was quite gracious. By the way CBC Radio (our equivalent to the BBC in Canada) had a lengthy report on the big upset this morning. I have been here 44 years and its the first time that I have heard us featured! It included references to Craig Forest, Jason De Vos and of course our big hero Jaime Peters.

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Garv added 14:55 - Jan 13 Just because you're losing, just because you're losing!
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Reuser31 added 15:29 - Jan 13 Sour grapes Fabregas? Arsenal were well beaten by good tactics and a very spirited performance yesterday. We were a little unlucky not to score more tbh, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs and Eboue looked poor and failed to adapt to the ball over the top to Carlos, Tamas and Connor, who were excellent all game. Hope we smash them at the Emirates. COYB
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brian_a_mul added 15:34 - Jan 13 Great tactics Charlie. Plenty of bodies in the middle (with Norris, Healy & Kennedy) and pace and strength out in wide areas of midfield (Wickham & Edwards). A solid looking back 4 with full backs. This set up a very solid base with little space for inticiate passes. With the Arsenal high line, the pace & control of Priskin and his willingness to take on the defenders was effective on the break aided by strong running and support from Wickham in particular. It will be a different game in London with the large pitch and space for Arsenal to get their passing game moving. Anyway, a win aginst a strong Arsenal team is a win none the less. They will me more tired when they play us next time! They have West Ham (A) on sat 15th, Leeds (A) on wed 19th, Wigan (H) on sat 22nd and Ipswich (H) on tues 25th. We have Milwall on sat 15th and Doncaster on 22nd. A weeks rest could make all the difference to us.

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poringlandblue added 15:37 - Jan 13 i live in norwich and everyone i know said we were awesome and they are all norwich supporters, cesc hope the groundsmen picked up all your dummies you werent up for the fight. still buzzing from the atmosphere last night, if its half as good for future games and mr jewell gets us playing football im a happy bunny
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I_8_NARWICH added 15:54 - Jan 13 Great work by both the manager and the team last night, tactics were spot on and i thought putting Kennedy in the midfield role was a stroke of genius from McParland and i think he needs to take a bit of credit from the win. I would like to say thank you to Ian McParland aswell as he has been in a tough postion in the last couple of games and i think he has stayed professional through out, Thank you.

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blue_dan added 16:00 - Jan 13 keep charlie as our tactics coordinator
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sonian_blue added 16:10 - Jan 13 Tosser Fabregas. Lets face it you were outfoxed by a right Charlie.
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_Mhs_ added 16:37 - Jan 13 its all mind games from fabregas. But i can see what he means, they had the majority of posession, and done nothing with it. Give praise to mcparland, he got the tactics spot on last night. When you're playing a team of such high quality you can't try and play football around them. I thought kennedy was impressive, even if i was a little worried when i first saw that he was playing centre mid. I hope jewell gets a winning side together, playing basically the same team every week. Peters was quality at right back, and i think all of the players done themselves proud infront of their new gaffer.

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Theblueyy added 20:01 - Jan 13 wonderd what was going on last night Cesc old mate. now we know you were confusing football with rugby , see in football the idea is to get the ball under !! tw*t
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bobble added 20:49 - Jan 13 those cheating french are whinging again ! launch the navy we will sort out those cheese eating surrender monkey's
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WarkyWonderLand added 20:58 - Jan 13 What disrespect shown from Fabregas given that he said before the game that Ipswich would give Arsenal a tough game. Now we have beaten them he comes out with this. Teams won't go out to try and match Arsenal playing football otherwise they would be hammered. He even said that the PR pitch is not as good as the Stamford Bridge!! How childish. Proud to be a Town fan at Stamford Bridge and even more last night. PJ must be thinking he has some players to work with! Priskin is a clever player and is one of our only players who can creat a half chance from nothing as he did after 10 mins. Wouldn't be surprised to see him kick on under PJ. Would be good if Clegg and co would see how many other people came last night and started to do more offers. PR was rocking.

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blueherts added 23:14 - Jan 13 Funny lad that Cesc - he realises he is not good enough for Barca ( yet!!) and Arsenal are pretty poor - lets be honest - top 4 team - Nasri and Van Persie would be handful but defensively we just sorted em and could and probably should have had another Best night since Inter match - just hope the second leg is not the same result - 9,000 at Emirates going to be immense !!! Well done ALL !!

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Doctor_Albran added 09:00 - Jan 14 Bobble - Fabregas is Spanish and no point launching the Navy, they haven't had once since the last time they took a daytrip to Plymouth! I read this story in the paper yesterday - flabbergasted - Arsenal controlled the ball, which is what they do - they even do it against Chelsea and Man Utd (who then hit them on the break and win - I see a pattern emerging!) - and we cleared our lines when we had to - again what a lower league team has to do. But when we had a little time and space we played the ball out well - the occassional weak pass left Priskin a little short against 2 centre halves - supported and broke well and got the shape back as soon as we lost the ball. Purrrrrrrrrfect. Was a great game and looking forward to the return leg - keep them out for the first 30 mins - get their fans nice and quiet and let the 9,000 of us do the rest! So everybody dressing as Johnny Wilkinson for Tuesday week? Would dress as Gavin Henson but my c**k outfit is in the wash!

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Umros added 09:41 - Jan 14 Long ball on not debate?.........but you couldn't defend it with world class players is what it comes down to.............
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