Middlesbrough head to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday for the Championship showdown with hosts Cardiff City.
Full predictions, pre-match stats and user poll for Cardiff City v Middlesbrough are shown on this page (including the best match odds).
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Form Guide
Cardiff City
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Cardiff City, following on from their previous result, will be hoping for more of the same after the 2-1 Championship victory vs Southampton.
In that game, Cardiff City managed 38% possession and 12 attempts at goal with 7 of them on target. For Cardiff City, the goalscorers were Famara Diรฉdhiou (68') and Cian Ashford (96'). For their opponents, Southampton got 21 shots on goal with 8 of them on target. Joe Aribo (12') scored for Southampton.
It has been a rare occasion in recent games where Cardiff City have kept a clean sheet. It will be a concern for them that Cardiff City have seen their defence breached in 5 of their previous 6 matches, leaking 10 goals along the way. That trend isnโt assured to be sustained into this game, of course.
Ahead of this clash, Cardiff City haven't beaten Middlesbrough in their previous 2 league matches.
Middlesbrough
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Following on from suffering a loss in their previous game against Leeds United in Championship action, Middlesbrough and their travelling fans will hope for a better result here.
In that match, Middlesbrough managed 67% possession and 13 attempts at goal with 5 of them on target. For Middlesbrough, goals were scored by Isaiah Jones (7') and Emmanuel Latte Lath (30', 87'). For their opponents, Leeds United got 8 shots on goal with 5 of them on target. Crysencio Summerville (14', 61'), Patrick Bamford (18') and Wilfired Gnonto (39') scored for Leeds United.
Over the course of their last 6 clashes, Middlesbrough have bagged a total of 11 goals. Middlesbrough have also managed to score in every single one of those games. In that time, they have had 8 goals go into their own net.
Their previous form shows that Middlesbrough:
- have not lost to Cardiff City when they've played them away from home in the last 3 league matches.
- haven't been defeated in their previous 5 away league matches.
- have not won away from home in their last 3 league matches.
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Head to head
A look at their most recent head to head clashes stretching back to 27/02/2021 shows that Cardiff City have won 1 of them and Middlesbrough 4, with the number of draws being 1.
A combined sum of 17 goals were scored between them during those clashes, with 5 of them from The Bluebirds and 12 belonging to The Boro. This gives an average number of goals per game equal to 2.83.
The last league encounter between these clubs was Championship match day 10 on 03/10/2023 when it finished Middlesbrough 2-0 Cardiff City.
That day, Middlesbrough had 61% possession and 11 attempts on goal with 6 of them on target. Goals were scored by Isaiah Jones (56') and Emmanuel Latte Lath (84').
For their opponents, Cardiff City had 6 shots on goal with 3 on target.
The match was refereed by Andrew Madley.
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Team News: Cardiff City
Thereโs just the lone fitness concern for the Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut to be concerned about from a near full-strength group. Mark McGuinness (unknown injury) wonโt play.
In our view, The Bluebirds look set to go for a 4-2-3-1 system for this one and select Ethan Horvath, Mahlon Romeo, Nathaniel Phillips, Dimitrios Goutas, Ollie Tanner, Manolis Siopis, Joe Ralls, Cian Ashford, Rubin Colwill, David Turnbull and Famara Diedhiou.
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Team News: Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has multiple availability issues to deal with. Darragh Lenihan (Ankle surgery) and Riley McGree (unknown injury) wonโt be making appearances.
We reckon that The Boro seem likely to make use of a 4-2-3-1 lineup, starting Seny Dieng, Luke Ayling, Rav van den Berg, Matt Clarke, Luke Thomas, Jonathan Howson, Lewis O'Brien, Isaiah Jones, Finn Azaz, Sam Greenwood and Emmanuel Latte Lath.
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Prediction
We think that Cardiff City will have their work cut out to break down this Middlesbrough outfit who we reckon should gain the upper hand.
We therefore think that itโs going to be a good battle with a 0-1 winning margin for Middlesbrough at the end of this game.
Should be an interesting one.
Our expert partners are tipping under 3.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.
Lucas Pereira,
16:01 26/04/2024
๐๏ธ Team Focus:
Cardiff City
Formed: 1899
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium (33,316)
Captain: Joe Ralls
Chairman: Mehmet Dalman
Manager: Erol Bulut
Competitions: Championship position 11
๐ Key Man: Karlan Ahearne-Grant
Typically deployed in the Striker position, Karlan Ahearne-Grant was born in Greenwich, England. Having made a first senior appearance for Charlton Athletic in the 2014 - 2015 season, the dangerous Forward has accumulated 6 league goals in the Championship 2023 - 2024 campaign to date from a total of 39 appearances.