Harris looks for a solution to City’s set-piece problem

CARDIFF City boss Neil Harris has lamented his players’ set-piece defending after they conceded a soft goal to come away with only a draw against Middlesbrough.

The contest at Cardiff City Stadium was an even one, with both sides having good chances to secure all three points, but two set-piece goals meant the two teams shared the spoils.

The Bluebirds are yet to win a game at home this season, much to the manager’s frustration, but it has been the sloppy manner in which City have conceded goals at home that is really beginning to rile Harris.

“The two disappointments are that we didn’t score more goals with the chances we created and the positions we got ourselves in and secondly, to concede such a poor goal from a set piece again,” Harris said after the match.

“That’s three times we’ve conceded from set plays and four games in a row here we have conceded first at home. That’s not acceptable in my changing room. I’m majorly disappointed.”

So, how does he plug that leaky defence at home?

“Work on the training pitch is obvious,” he said. “Picking the right team, that’s my prerogative, my decisions.

“Making sure we are a little more street-wise.

“First-goal mentality, we’ve got it away from home, we’ve had it for 12 months away from home, majority of the time we have had it at home as well. But all of a sudden, we’ve got key moments going against us at home.

“Ultimately, they’ve come from set pieces or giving the ball away cheaply.

“Bournemouth scored a good goal against us, I’ve got no problem with that, but the other five goals we have conceded in the league at home, three of them have been from set= pieces and two have been from us giving the ball away at the edge of our own box.

“You can say it’s unlucky, but you get to the stage where it’s not acceptable.”