MATCH THREAD " CARDIFF CITY v MIDDLESBOROUGH " MATCH THREAD

Boro Boss Karanka has reported no fresh injury problems ahead of the trip to South Wales. Tomas Mejias still has a back problem, so Dimi Konstantopoulos will keep hi s place between the posts and Jamal Blackman will be on the bench. Left-back James Husband remains sidelined with a calf problem.

He hinted that he could freshen things up against Cardiff, although he does not think it is time to hand first starts to new signings Jelle Vossen or Patrick Bamford.

Cardiff 1 - 0 Boro, Morrison (37). Att. 19876.

Cardiff 3-0 Middlesbrough - Attendance: 20,800

Fans to chant "Doo doo doo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer!"

Craig Noone or Dikgacoi will not start v Boro or unlikely to play at all, at the very best a sub. Noone & Dikgacoi play tonight in DVP game.

We need 3pts from this one, nothing less

' MATCH FACTS '

Tuesday's match could see new signing Bruno Ecuele Manga make his Cardiff City debut.


Grant Leadbitter has started the season in great form with six goals already this term, three being penalties.


Jelle Vossen could make his first start after a 30-minute stint off the bench against Huddersfield last time out.


Dimi Konstantopoulos is likely to start between the sticks on Tuesday night, the Greek made nine appearances for the Bluebirds back in 2009 including an own goal on his debut at Wolves.


Boro have had a mixed start in the league with three wins and three draws, two of those wins have come away from the Riverside.

' BORO '

KEY OPPOSITION PLAYER: Grant Leadbitter
Leadbitter is the current Championship top scorer with five league goals; three of these have come from the penalty spot. The Sunderland academy product has already matched last seasons goal tally. He is not limited to goals from inside the box as he proved on the weekend. His sublime 35 yard free kick led many to compare the goal to Roberto Carlos’ famous strike against France in 1997. The 28 year old midfielder was capped at every age level from U16’s through to U21’s for England and could prove a thorn in City’s side Tuesday night.

ONE TO WATCH: Kike
Enrique Garcia Martinez, or Kike as he is more commonly known is Middlesbrough’s Spanish striker. He has three goals to his name so far in the campaign after scoring on his debut against Birmingham City. He joined this summer for a fee in the region of £2.7 million after already working with manager Karanka in the Spanish youth setup. He scored 48 goals in 150 games for former side Murcia and could prove a real hit on Teesside.

Dimi Konstantopoulos is in goals against us... If we lose, we are shit

2-1 Boro
19,733

City to come out all guns blazing and go 2-0 up before sitting back and letting Boro back into it with the game ending up 2-2 crowd 18,976.

Just hope Konstantdropalot has a nightmare and we win 3-0

Boro have Sold 300 tickets, but they can pay on the night

cardiff 1 boro 3

att 20,500 odd

Vital Preview: Cardiff v Middlesbrough -

The challenge from OGS is for a Cardiff response after our second half collapse against Norwich on Saturday, this chance come instantly on Tuesday with Middlesbrough coming to the Cardiff City Stadium.

OGS isn't afraid to change his side and one of the changes is almost certain to be Bruno Ecuele Manga coming in to make his debut in defence, you don't pay the kind of money we paid for him not to use him. Sean Morrison or Matt Connolly will drop out, possibly Connolly.

Fabio's muscle problem from Saturday might mean he misses out with Declan John deputising with Craig Noone a possibility to return to the squad for the first time this season with Mats Daehli recovered from his internationally sustained injury.

Middlesbrough will start with the experienced Greek international Dimi Konstantopoulos in goal as it's been confirmed he'll keep out Tomas Mejias after replacing him after injury with it now 'his place to lose.'

The only doubt for Middlesbrough was Grant Leadbitter but he's been passed fit.

Last time the sides met it was Middlesbrough that took the points in a Riverside Stadium encounter with Middlesbrough also having the better of the overall recent meeting.

We should have finished off Norwich on Saturday, they were basically dead and buried at half time but we gave them a sniff and they took it. We can ill afford too many repeats of that.

Read more: http://www.cardiff.vitalfootball.co.uk/ ... z3DQIQy6Eo

Leadbitter struggling after limping off last minute on weekend is great news

2-0 Cardiff
21,110

Cardiff 1-2 Middlesbrough
19,683

As long as Fabio is not injured, why not start with the team that were beating Norwich 2 nil and playing good football?

Problem is they're also the team that let in the first couple of goals hehe.

But in all seriousness, I agree, stick with what worked (although maybe Le Fondre off for Macheda )

As long as Fabio is not injured, why not start with the team that were beating Norwich 2 nil and playing good football?

Problem is they're also the team that let in the first couple of goals hehe.

But in all seriousness, I agree, stick with what worked (although maybe Le Fondre off for Macheda )

The starting II were not, they never let in any goals?

ITV REPORT 16 September 2014
Solskjaer calls for response against Middlesbrough

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Cardiff City manager

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has called on his players to bounce back from Saturdays home defeat to Norwich with a win against Middlesbrough in the Championship on Tuesday evening.

The Bluebirds surrendered a two goal lead to The Canaries on the weekend, eventually losing 4-2. That defeat saw Cardiff slip to 15th in the Championship table.

New signing Bruno Ecuele Manga could be in line to make his début after arriving from French club FC Lorient on transfer deadline day. The Gabon international defender has taken part in light training over the weekend and is expected to be named in Solskjaer squad for the game against Boro.

Although winger Craig Noone is still recovering from injury and is unlikely to feature.

Solskjaer told the clubs website:
In the Championship you don’t have time to think too much, because the next game comes straight away.

We’ve stayed tight as a group the past couple of days to make sure we are physically and mentally recovered. We’re now confident and looking forward to (Tuesday) night."

– OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER

Tuesday 16th Sept 2014

The Bluebirds look likely to hand Bruno Manga his first start after Saturday's 4-2 home defeat to Norwich.

As long as Fabio is not injured, why not start with the team that were beating Norwich 2 nil and playing good football?

Problem is they're also the team that let in the first couple of goals hehe.

But in all seriousness, I agree, stick with what worked (although maybe Le Fondre off for Macheda )

The starting II were not, they never let in any goals?

Okay, everyone but Fabio did

As long as Fabio is not injured, why not start with the team that were beating Norwich 2 nil and playing good football?

Problem is they're also the team that let in the first couple of goals hehe.

But in all seriousness, I agree, stick with what worked (although maybe Le Fondre off for Macheda )

The starting II were not, they never let in any goals?

Okay, everyone but Fabio did

True,but Ole did not know what to do with his team or tactics

1-0 to cardiff Dimi Konstantopoulos own goal

1-0 to cardiff Dimi Konstantopoulos own goal

As long as Fabio is not injured, why not start with the team that were beating Norwich 2 nil and playing good football?

Problem is they're also the team that let in the first couple of goals hehe.

But in all seriousness, I agree, stick with what worked (although maybe Le Fondre off for Macheda )

The starting II were not, they never let in any goals?

Okay, everyone but Fabio did

True,but Ole did not know what to do with his team or tactics

It was devastating to see the updates coming through, I was mega chuffed when I saw 2-0 but it just kept getting worse from there! I am all for giving Ole more of a chance but there's no doubting that this week was an embarrassing failure Can only get better, right?

As long as Fabio is not injured, why not start with the team that were beating Norwich 2 nil and playing good football?

Problem is they're also the team that let in the first couple of goals hehe.

But in all seriousness, I agree, stick with what worked (although maybe Le Fondre off for Macheda )

The starting II were not, they never let in any goals?

Okay, everyone but Fabio did

True,but Ole did not know what to do with his team or tactics

It was devastating to see the updates coming through, I was mega chuffed when I saw 2-0 but it just kept getting worse from there! I am all for giving Ole more of a chance but there's no doubting that this week was an embarrassing failure Can only get better, right?

Tonight, I hope Ole and our team can put it right with a victory

Marshall
Fabio (if fit) or John
Connolly
Manga
Brayford
Pilkington
Gunnar
Ralls
Whittingham
Jones
Le Fondre

I can see that being the squad tonight. Ole saying that he is looking at 1 or 2 changes so Manga in for Morro & Alfie in for Macheda imo. Fabio may need to be replace if he isn't fully fit though so we could see 3 changes!

1-3! CLUELESS,,,,,

annis imo that's a stupid thing to say quote he didn't know what to do with his team or tactics
you said in the first half you thought he got it right and at last got the team and tactics together
then you decide he doesn't in the second half
time you put the blame for Saturdays 2nd half performance on the players they must shoulder the blame as it was them at fault

annis imo that's a stupid thing to say quote he didn't know what to do with his team or tactics
you said in the first half you thought he got it right and at last got the team and tactics together
then you decide he doesn't in the second half
time you put the blame for Saturdays 2nd half performance on the players they must shoulder the blame as it was them at fault

Steve, I blame Ole for Saturdays defeat and if we win tonight, I will say well done to Ole

Of course players are also responsible for results etc, but the final buck stops with Ole

CARDIFF CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH: TEAM NEWS
16th September 2014

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could hand new signing Bruno Ecuele Manga, who arrived from Lorient on deadline day, his debut when they host Middlesbrough in the Championship tonight.

Manga looks set to replace Matt Connolly or Sean Morrison in central defence while left-back Fabio may also have to drop out if he fails to shake off a muscle problem he picked up on Saturday. Declan John is ready to step in.






Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos is set to continue between the sticks after replacing Tomas Mejias for Saturday's win at Huddersfield.

Manager Aitor Karanka has confirmed the 6ft 5in Greek is now his first choice shot-stopper and insists he has every confidence in the 35-year-old, who had previously only appeared in two Capital One Cup fixtures.

Mejias suffered a back injury prior to the weekend victory which ruled him out of contention and has shown a distinct lack of form this season so far, but Karanka insists he had already made the decision to promote Konstantopoulos and the position is now his to lose.

Two-goal hero Grant Leadbitter is fit to play again in Wales despite taking a heavy knock at the weekend and Karanka has no new injury concerns.

annis imo that's a stupid thing to say quote he didn't know what to do with his team or tactics
you said in the first half you thought he got it right and at last got the team and tactics together
then you decide he doesn't in the second half
time you put the blame for Saturdays 2nd half performance on the players they must shoulder the blame as it was them at fault

Steve, I blame Ole for Saturdays defeat and if we win tonight, I will say well done to Ole

Of course players are also responsible for results etc, but the final buck stops with Ole

So it's Ole's fault Fabio got injured? Because if it were not for that we would not have lost that match.