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Cardiff City lock horns with Middlesbrough in the fourth round of games in the EFL Championship on Saturday. The hosts are one of six winless sides in the competition, while Middlesbrough have won once in three outings.
Erol Bulut's Cardiff are coming off a 5-3 home defeat in midweek to Southampton in the EFL Cup second round. The Bluebirds played well, making it 3-3 just before the hour mark but conceded twice in stoppage time to bow out of the cup.
In their previous outing, Cardiff drew 1-1 at Swansea last week, with Liam Cullen's 10th-minute opener for the hosts getting canceled out by Callum Robinson's 79th-minute leveler. The Bluebirds are dead last in the standings, behind Millwall and Luton Town on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough are fresh off a 5-0 humbling home loss to Stoke City in the EFL Cup second round, with four goals coming after the break.
In their last Championship outing, Boro drew 2-2 at home to newly promoted Portsmouth, scoring the equalizer in the 90th minute through a Tommy Conway penalty. Carrick's side are tenth in the standings with four points.
On that note, here are the head-to-head and key numbers, match prediction, and betting tips from the Cardiff-Middlesbrough Championship clash at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough head-to-head and key numbers
- In 73 meetings across competitions, Cardiff lead Middlesbrough 34-26 but lost 4-1 at home in the Championship in their previous outing in April 2024.
- Cardiff have just one win in their last eight meetings with Boro, losing five.
- The Bluebirds have won twice in their last five competitive home games, losing thrice.
- Middlesbrough have two wins in their last five road outings, losing once.
- Form guide (last five games across competitions, most recent result first): Cardiff: L-D-L-W-L; Middlesbrough: L-D-L-W-W
Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough prediction
Cardiff have had a horrendous start to their Championship campaign, and they need results quickly to move off the bottom of the standings. Middlesbrough, by contrast, have fared slightly better, but need a pick-me-up after a heavy home defeat in the cup in midweek.
The Bluebirds will be buoyed by their performance in midweek, even though they eventually returned empty-handed. However, their recent record against Boro - and their overall home record - doesn't inspire much confidence.
Considering the same, we expect Boro to eke out a comfortable win and extend the Bluebirds' winless start to the season.
Prediction: Cardiff City 0-2 Middlesbrough
Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough betting tips
Tip-1: Middlesbrough to win
Tip-2: Cardiff to keep a clean sheet: No (The Bluebirds haven't kept one in their last nine meetings with Boro.)
Tip-3: Over 1.5 goals: Yes (Cardiff's last nine games across competitions have produced at least two goals.)
