MATCH THREAD: " MIDDLESBROUGH v CARDIFF CITY " MATCH THREAD

MIDDLESBROUGH v CARDIFF CITY
Saturday 4th January, 3pm
Sky Bet Championship - Match 25
Riverside Stadium 


Cardiff City: Alnwick; Rinomhota, Goutas, Daland, O'Dowda; Chambers, Siopis, Robertson; Tanner, Colwill, Ashford.

Subs: Horvath, Bagan, Kpakio, Ng, Fish, Ralls, Meite, Willock, Kanga.





Cardiff, incredibly, were unsuccessful in their appeal against Callum Robinson's red and as a result he misses today and two more games.

It means Cardiff go without a recognised striker, with Tanner, Colwill and Ashford the front three. Meite and Kanga remain on the bench.

Andy Rinomhota keeps his place at right back despite Perry Ng's return. Four defenders on the bench shows how light City are in attacking options.


It’s pay on the day for Cardiff Fans.

Our Allocation is 2,500



The Good News for Omer Riza, the injury list is small now.

Callum Robinson is banned.



Injury Update:

Aaron Ramsey and David Turnbull look set to be out of action until at the minimum March.

El Ghazi has a hip problem


Isaak Davies still trying to get fit.

Striker Etete is fit.

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Club Connections

Multiple players have played for both teams.

Those in recent years include Sol Bamba and Andy Campbell.

Rival Players

Luke Ayling spent several years with Bristol City.

The Opposition's Manager

Michael Carrick was appointed Middlesbrough manager in October 2022.

It is his first managerial role, although he did have a brief spell as caretaker manager at Manchester United.

Last season they finished 8th and reached the semi finals of the Carabao Cup.

Opposition Dangerous Players

Emmanuel Latte Lath has nine league goals this season and scored 16 last season.

Finn Azaz has eight goals and nine assists this season.

Head To Head 

We lost 2-0 at home to Middlesbrough in August.

That was one of four defeats in the last five against them.

Team News - Predicted Line-Ups

Middlesbrough: Glover, Dijksteel, Fry, Van den Berg, Engel, Barlaser, Hackney, Azaz, Jones, McGree, Latte Lath

Cardiff City: Alnwick, Rinomhota, Daland, Goutas, O'Dowda, Chambers, Siopis, Robertson, Willock, Ashford, Robinson

Last Game

We drew 1-1 at home to Coventry on Wednesday.

On the same day, Middlesbrough won 1-0 at Hull.

Match Odds

Middlesbrough - 4/7
Cardiff City - 4/1
Draw - 3/1

Predictions

Post your predictions below 

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It’s pay on the day for Cardiff Fans.

Our Allocation is 2,500

Injury Update:

Aaron Ramsey and David Turnbull look set to be out of action until at the minimum March.


Isaak Davies still trying to get fit.

Striker Etete is fit.

Callum Robinson is banned.

Riza 7 pts from 33pts and 1 Win from 11 games:





Omer Riza:

“We’ve now got four points from six pints.”

Riza added: "I'd like to think they have got the bit between the teeth at the minute.”

“But there's a tough game coming up at Middlesbrough, we've exerted a lot of energy in this game. Hopefully the next two days we can rest, replenish and go again.”

“I'm frustrated," “I think we dominated first half and had good control.”

“ My only one question for the players was that we could have punished a bit more, took the opportunities we created and put the game to bed.”

"Second half, the goal that we conceded was cheap. We get muscled off the ball too easily and it's rebounded and scored from right after half-time when we'd had a good first half. We worked so hard so that's disappointing.”


"Then to get the red card - and for me it wasn't a red card. If anyone thinks that's a red card then I'm a monkey's uncle. The arm is up, he has caught him, yellow card, yes. No malice in it at all. All due respect to the referee, it's his first Championship game. The moment maybe got to him and he wanted to make a big call and it was the wrong one. It's something we have to deal with.“

“ I have to give credit to Ollie ( Tanner ) Meite for creating so many opportunities.”

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Riza 7 pts from 33pts and 1 Win from 11 games:



04/01/2025 Middlesbrough Cardiff City Crowd Away Support



Thursday 7pm 09/01/2025 FA CUP 3RD RD Sheffield United v Cardiff City
Live on BBC Wales.



14/01/2025 19:45pm Cardiff City v Watford

18/01/2025 12:30pm Cardiff City v Swansea City


21/01/2025 20:00 Millwall v Cardiff City

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Middlesbrough are the second highest scorers in the league

Etete has to start, with Robinson banned.

Could be a long 90 minutes, 3-0 Middlesborough

Middlesbrough are the second highest scorers in the league

They've also lost at home to Coventry, Blackburn, Stoke and Bristol City.

Middlesbrough are the second highest scorers in the league

They've also lost at home to Coventry, Blackburn, Stoke and Bristol City.

That gives us hope.

To be fair, they only drew at home to Sheffield Wednesday and away at Plymouth as well.

3 nil to Boro

A tough game but they aren’t unbeatable.

We seem to have a bit of confidence back now

Be interesting to see if we start with Etete, Reindorf or Kanga with Robinson suspended.

A tough game but they aren’t unbeatable.

We seem to have a bit of confidence back now

Be interesting to see if we start with Etete, Reindorf or Kanga with Robinson suspended.

Riza said we're appealing the red card so Robinson will probably be available for this as they won't have time to hear the appeal before Saturday.

A tough game but they aren’t unbeatable.

We seem to have a bit of confidence back now

Be interesting to see if we start with Etete, Reindorf or Kanga with Robinson suspended.

Riza said we're appealing the red card so Robinson will probably be available for this as they won't have time to hear the appeal before Saturday.

Does that mean he will or wont be available (if appeal successful)?

A tough game but they aren’t unbeatable.

We seem to have a bit of confidence back now

Be interesting to see if we start with Etete, Reindorf or Kanga with Robinson suspended.

Riza said we're appealing the red card so Robinson will probably be available for this as they won't have time to hear the appeal before Saturday.

Does that mean he will or wont be available (if appeal successful)?

Assuming that we put the appeal in before Saturday, he'll be available for this game. Unlikely that the appeal would be be heard before this game.

A player can't be banned if an appeal process is ongoing.

A tough game but they aren’t unbeatable.

We seem to have a bit of confidence back now

Be interesting to see if we start with Etete, Reindorf or Kanga with Robinson suspended.

Riza said we're appealing the red card so Robinson will probably be available for this as they won't have time to hear the appeal before Saturday.

Does that mean he will or wont be available (if appeal successful)?

Assuming that we put the appeal in before Saturday, he'll be available for this game. Unlikely that the appeal would be be heard before this game.

A player can't be banned if an appeal process is ongoing.

Ah ok, thanks for that.

If we can score early I fancy us, if the game goes on or Boro score first then I only see a Boro Win.
But they are very unpredictable.

Boro’s recent form:


Very unpredictable:

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Middlesbrough's injury list is extensive, with defenders Alex Bangura, Darragh Lenihan and Luke Ayling on the treatment table alongside goalkeepers Seny Dieng and Tommy Smith.

Carrick could name an unchanged backline from his side's match against Hull, with Anfernee Dijksteel, Dael Fry, Rav van den Berg and Lukas Engel likely to start in front of Tom Glover.

Daniel Barlaser and Hayden Hackney are almost certain to start in midfield given Aidan Morris and Jonathan Howson are injured.

Elsewhere, forward Solomon Brynn is not scheduled to return from a dislocated shoulder injury until early April while Tommy Conway is also ruled out, and this could mean that Ben Doak, Finn Azaz and Riley McGree support striker Emmanuel Latte Lath on Saturday.

As for Cardiff, striker Robinson's suspension is confounded by the fact forwards Isaak Davies and Michael Reindorf will not make the matchday squad due to injury.

Yakou Meite could replace Robinson up front, and he may be flanked by wingers Cian Ashford and Chris Willock.

Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and David Turnbull are not available for selection, much like defender Ryotaro Tsunoda, so expect Manolis Siopis and Calum Chambers to be stationed in front of centre-backs Dimitris Goutas and Jesper Daland.

El Ghazi has a hip problem

We don’t have a great record up there always a hard game can’t see nothing except a defeat by 2 goals at least

Omer Riza:

“We have a gruelling schedule ahead of us.”

"I think the boys have got in their heads now that the intensity is a must in every game that we play," Omer added. "I think it has been there in a lot of the games, but there have been a few where we have let ourselves down in that respect.

"We're in a good place at the moment and hopefully that continues. We've got the balance right and we're creating opportunities, which is important, and we have elements of quality when we've got the ball. We'll be taking that into the game this weekend, we think we can hurt them and we'll look to do that.

"It's a gruelling schedule, we know that, but we're looking for more of the same. Everybody's in the same situation and sometimes, your head rules your heart and you manage to push yourself through with that mental side of it.

"We've done that at Watford, we should have had it against Coventry, but this is the last game in this block, then we have another block of games coming up after that.

"Everybody will get their opportunity, the proof is there with the players that are playing at the moment. We'll keep striving forward and look to pick up as many points as we can."


04/01/2025 Middlesbrough Cardiff City Crowd Away Support

14/01/2025 19:45pm Cardiff City v Watford

18/01/2025 12:30pm Cardiff City v Swansea City


21/01/2025 20:00 Millwall v Cardiff City



25/01/2025- 15:00 - Derby County (h)

01/02/2025 - 15:00 - Leeds United (a)

08/02/2025 - 15:00 - Hull City (h)

11/02/2025 - 19:45 - Portsmouth (a)

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Cardiff, incredibly, were unsuccessful in their appeal against Callum Robinson's red and as a result he misses today and two more games.

It means Cardiff go without a recognised striker, with Tanner, Colwill and Ashford the front three. Meite and Kanga remain on the bench.

Andy Rinomhota keeps his place at right back despite Perry Ng's return. Four defenders on the bench shows how light City are in attacking options.

Match is underway

Tanner on the left, Ashford on the right and Colwill as a false nine it looks like

Great save by Glover to deny Tanner from range

Good challenge by Rinomhota to prevent what would have been a certain goal

Alnwick makes a comfortable save with a shot from distance

Surprised how quiet Middlesbrough fans are

1-0 Boro

Latte Lath