Will Boro knock on the door again?
While the battle to stay in the second-tier Championship is now all decided and the three fixed relegation spots have been decided, the coveted play-off places are still up for grabs further up the table. At least sixth place is required after 46 matchdays in order to still have a chance of promotion to the Premier League at the end of the regular season.
Among others, Middlesbrough still have the goal of climbing into the top six. A prerequisite for that, however, is a home win on Wednesday night against Cardiff. If the home side can achieve that, they could close the gap on Sheffield United, who currently occupy sixth place, to two points. However, if a double chance X2 prediction pays off at the Riverside Stadium between Middlesbrough and Cardiff, Boro’s run to the top flight is all but over.
The pressure is on for Chris Wilder’s side, who have only themselves to blame for their complicated starting position after five matches in a row without a win. Despite the host’s lost form, the odds on a home win in the Middlesbrough vs. Cardiff clash are lower, as it is all about the golden pineapple for the visitors. Furthermore, the Welsh team has not necessarily shone with positive results lately either.
Middlesbrough – Statistics & current form
Middlesbrough FC can now see themselves as a fixture in the Championship. With the exception of the 2016/17 season, when they were immediately relegated from the Premier League after just one year with only 19 points, the red and whites have been exclusively represented in England’s second-tier division over the past decade.
It seems unlikely that this will change next season, as they are currently ninth in the table and will need a very good finish, the support of other clubs and then a perfect play-off run to become the third team to go up to the Premier League. In the north-east, however, they are thinking in smaller steps, after which the first priority on Wednesday night will be to win the outstanding catch-up game at home to Cardiff.
Boro desperate to get back on track
This will not be an easy task either, as Boro have now waited five league games for a treble. Since their last success on 2 April, coach Chris Wilder’s team has suffered three defeats and drawn twice. Particularly shocking: In the five matches mentioned above, only one goal was scored, most recently in the 1-1 draw at Swansea at the weekend. Even though this winless streak included matches against the top three in the league table, Fulham, Bournemouth and Huddersfield, the form can be described as poor.
Nonetheless, we’re not averse to placing a tip on Wednesday night between Middlesbrough and Cardiff to end the drought. With twelve home wins already this season (two draws, seven defeats), there is no doubt that the 2006 UEFA Cup finalists have a certain home strength. Before the two recent home defeats to leaders Fulham and top-flight Huddersfield, Wilder’s side had won eight (!) in a row at the Riverside Stadium.
Predicted Middlesbrough line-up:
Daniels; Dijksteel, Bamba, McNair; Jones, Tavernier, Howson, Bola; McGree; Watmore, Balogun
Last matches played by Middlesbrough:
Championship
23/04/2022 – Swansea 1 – 1 Middlesboro
18/04/2022 – Middlesboro 0 – 2 Huddersfield
15/04/2022 – Bournemouth 0 – 0 Middlesboro
09/04/2022 – Middlesboro 0 – 1 Hull
07/04/2022 – Middlesboro 0 – 1 Fulham
Cardiff – Statistics & current form
There’s not much at stake for Cardiff City in their remaining games. Sure, the Welsh side want to finish in the best possible position in the final standings and the players are also hoping to bag a bit of points bonus, but the bottom line is that coach Steve Morison’s team have nothing more to do with the remaining deciders.
They are 15 points behind the first relegation place and 20 points off the play-off places. The 19th-placed team is therefore talking about an unsatisfactory season, especially after finishing eighth in the previous year.
Can Cardiff bounce back?
A certain loss of excitement and motivation has been reflected in recent results, with the Bluebirds losing all of their last three league games. Although the defeats were only ever by a one-goal difference, the offensive performance in particular fell short of their own expectations. Only one goal scored in the last three matches underlines this, as does the fact that only six other clubs have been able to celebrate less often than the Welsh.
When you consider that just five of their 22 away games this season have been victorious, and that four of their six most recent away appearances have ended in defeat, we’re pretty comfortable predicting a home win between Middlesbrough and Cardiff on Wednesday night. It is conceivable to push the odds on offer up a little by combining the bet on the three-way market with the under 3.5. Indeed, 13 of the past 14 Championship matches involving the Bluebirds have seen a maximum of three goals.
Predicted Cardiff line-up:
Daniels; Dijksteel, Bamba, McNair; Jones, Tavernier, Howson, Bola; McGree; Watmore, Balogun
Last matches played by Cardiff:
Championship
23/04/2022 – Sheffield United 1 – 0 Cardiff
18/04/2022 – Cardiff 0 – 1 Luton
15/04/2022 – Hull 2 – 1 Cardiff
09/04/2022 – Reading 1 – 2 Cardiff
02/04/2022 – Cardiff 0 – 4 Swansea
Middlesbrough – Cardiff Direct Comparison / H2H Record
These clubs have faced each other in 51 games in England’s second division alone. With 23 wins compared to 20 defeats and eight draws, Cardiff actually lead the direct comparison. However, 13 of Boro’s 20 wins have come in front of a home crowd. At the Riverside Stadium, the record (13-6-6) reads much better. The Red and Whites also won the first leg 2-0. However, it was the only full success for the favourites in a review of the past seven direct duels.
Middlesbrough – Cardiff tip
For Boro, Wednesday night is all about closing the gap on the play-off places. The FA Cup quarter-finalists are currently five points adrift of staying in the race for promotion. With two games left to play, a loss of points during the week would almost be the final straw for coach Chris Wilder’s team.
Given this clear starting constellation, it is hardly surprising that the odds between Middlesbrough and Cardiff are clearly in favour of the home side. The ninth-placed team in the table meets the 19th-placed team in the table. Hope meets despair, because for the visitors from Wales, this match has at most a statistical character. The Bluebirds have lost three in a row so we are sceptical that they will be able to score at the Riverside Stadium.
Although the Red and Whites have been far from good of late, going without a win five times in a row and scoring just one goal in that period, the quality outweighs the home advantage and the aforementioned chance to move closer to sixth place. In view of recent impressions, however, there is no reason to think of offensive fireworks, especially because the Welsh guests tend to come from a solid defensive position.
