Birmingham City have hired Scott Fry as their first dedicated set-piece coach, a move aimed at closing the gap to the Championship’s elite. The Blues finished last season with 16 set-piece goals scored and 17 conceded, while Coventry City led the league with 29 set-piece goals. Fry arrives from Rangers, where he worked under Chris Davies, the Blues’ manager, who is prioritising marginal gains to improve Birmingham’s Championship standing.

Why set pieces matter for Birmingham City

Set pieces are now a top priority for Blues, who sit 10th in the Championship with 64 points, 17 wins, 13 draws and 16 losses from 46 games this season. Their recent form reads DWWDW, and their goal difference stands at +1 (57 scored, 56 conceded). Manager Chris Davies has given Fry full licence to experiment, shifting focus from the club’s previous set-piece coaches, Ben Petty and Jonathan Grounds.

The trend is clear: the four winners of England’s professional leagues last season were all top scorers from set pieces. Coventry City, the current leaders, scored 29 set-piece goals last season while conceding just 12. Fry’s appointment follows the blueprint set by Lincoln City, who won League One in 2024/25 with 103 points by dominating set pieces—scoring 30 in each of the last two seasons.

What Fry brings to Birmingham City

Fry’s approach blends data, AI and tactical innovation. At Lincoln, his work under manager Michael Skubala helped the Imps target set pieces as a key weapon despite limited budgets. Fry’s background as a goalkeeping coach also sharpens Birmingham’s defensive set-piece organisation, ensuring Blues concede fewer avoidable goals. His arrival signals a shift in training focus, with set pieces now a central plank of Davies’ strategy.

Fry’s appointment means eyes will turn to him—not Davies—when a set piece goes awry. The ex-Lincoln man will be judged on results, with Blues hoping his expertise can unlock marginal gains that could push them closer to the playoff places. The gap to Coventry, 31 points behind the leaders, remains daunting, but set pieces offer a high-reward route to narrowing it.

What comes next for Birmingham City

Blues will now place more emphasis on set-piece coaching, with Fry given the freedom to innovate. His work could shape Birmingham’s approach in the remaining games of the season, where every goal—scored or conceded—counts. With 64 points and a +1 goal difference, Blues are in the mix but need every edge to climb higher. Fry’s arrival is the latest step in Davies’ push to turn marginal gains into Championship progress.