Cardiffvs.Middlesbrough

The two teams sit in 11th and ninth position respectively and a win in South Wales for either side would put them on the brink of achieving that target.

Match preview

While Erol Bulut has cut a frustrated figure at times in recent weeks, he cannot be overly frustrated with how Cardiff's campaign has panned out.

For a club that has been fending off relegation in recent years, a return of 62 points from 44 games is a more-than-respectable return for the Turkish boss in his first season in English football.

Although the Bluebirds have lost 20 times in comparison to 19 wins, they have prevailed in seven of their most recent 11 matches in the second tier.

A two-game losing streak at the Cardiff City Stadium was brought to an end last weekend as they recorded a 2-1 victory over promotion-chasing Southampton.

Like they did against Ipswich Town last month, Cardiff came from behind to defeat one of the best teams in the division, but Bulut's side head into their final home fixture of the season having scored just 26 goals in 22 such games.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough's late promotion charge has now come to an end on the back of going three games without success.

Away draws with Hull City and Ipswich Town were followed by a 4-3 defeat at home to Leeds United on Monday night, with eighth place now their realistic best scenario.

Losing to Leeds ended a nine-game unbeaten run for Michael Carrick's side, and the Englishman will take the positives from ending the season on a relative high.

Middlesbrough's away form has not been the issue, with 32 points being accumulated from 22 games, while they have not lost on their travels since March 2.

Cardiff City Championship form:

L

W

L

W

L

W

Middlesbrough Championship form:

D

W

W

D

D

L

Team News

In a memorable moment for Cardiff last week, 17-year-old Luey Giles came off the substitutes' bench to set up 19-year-old Cian Ashford for his first goal on his full debut.

The latter is expected to keep his place in the starting lineup, with Famara Diedhiou potentially coming into the attack and Yakou Meite moving out wide.

At a time when Cardiff have a lengthy injury list, the rest of the team may stay the same, although Raheem Conte is another youngster in contention for a start at right-back.

Luke Ayling and Sam Greenwood are in line to return for Middlesbrough having been unable to face parent club Leeds on Monday.

That may prove to be the only two changes made by Carrick, Anfernee Dijksteel and Sam Silvera the players to miss out.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Horvath; Romeo, Phillips, Goutas, Tanner; Siopis, Ralls; Ashford, Colwill, Meite; Diedhiou

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Dieng; Ayling, Van den Berg, Clarke, Thomas; Howson, O'Brien; Jones, Azaz, Greenwood; Lath

We say: Cardiff City 2-1 Middlesbrough

This is a fixture with two evenly-matched sides who have collected regular points of late, making this a difficult match to predict. However, with Boro now three games without success on their travels, we are backing Cardiff to edge this contest by the odd goal in three.

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