Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna believes set-pieces are going to be decisive in tomorrow’s Championship clash at Cardiff City (12.30pm, Sky Sports). 

The Blues, second in the table, could become the first team in the club’s storied history to win seven league games in a row at second-tier level or higher. 

Standing in their way is a Cardiff side that have won their last three games to keep play-off hopes alive. 

Erol Bulut’s men have scored more set-piece goals than anyone in the division (18), with Ipswich second in that table (14). 

“I'm sure that set-plays are plays are going to be absolutely decisive in the game,” said McKenna. 

“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.  

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“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.  

“To be successful in this division, certainly for us, you need so many different ways to score goals. That’s something we’ve tried to emphasise.” 

Four weeks ago, Town had to roll up their sleeves up and grind out a 2-1 win at Swansea in difficult conditions. Asked if he anticipated a similar challenge on a return to South Wales, McKenna replied: “There’s every chance the game could pan out that way. You’re not going to get anything away from home in the Championship without fighting for the right and without showing toughness and physicality in your game.  

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“Those are the qualities that we have to bring to every game first and foremost. When we do that, when we give ourselves the chance to get a foothold in the game, we believe that our football and our qualities can start to show through.  

“We’re going to have to stand up to the physical battle, we’re going to have to be tough, we’re going to have to work very, very hard again. Only when we do that will we have the chance to show the full range of our game.” 

Victory in the day’s early kick-off would see Ipswich, temporarily at least, move level on points with league leaders Leicester. The Foxes are at Hull City later in the afternoon. 

“Honestly, I don’t think we’ll even mention it,” said McKenna. “I’ve not thought, for one second, about the fact we’re playing an early kick-off and what that could mean for the points total or anything like that. It doesn’t even come into the thinking, that’s the truth. 

“The full focus is just Cardiff, all the challenges and threats they can present, the opportunities we’re going to have to manufacture for ourselves and doing everything we can to get another three points. We know we’re on a good run, we want to keep that going and we know it’s going to be tough this weekend.”