Four defeats in a row for beaten Bluebirds
CARDIFF City fell to another defeat in this increasingly-disappointing season as Middlesbrough ran out comfortable winners at the Riverside Stadium.
Goals in each half – one from Marcus Tavernier, the other from Riley McGree – consigned Cardiff to their fourth successive defeat, leaving Bluebirds fans all but begging for this ugly campaign to finally be put to bed.
On the team news front, Cody Drameh passed his late fitness test, starting on the right with Perry Ng crossing over to the other flank owing to an injury to Joel Bagan. There was room in the side for both birthday boy Rubin Colwill, who turned 20 on Wednesday, and Tommy Doyle in a fresh diamond formation, while Max Watters once again partnered Jordan Hugill up front.
For the hosts, the familiar face of Sol Bamba was tasked with stopping City’s forward duo. And it’s fair to say Bamba and Co had a fair bit to deal with during the opening exchanges, with the visitors enjoying a positive start to proceedings in front of a tetchy Riverside crowd.
Colwill was finding pockets of space at the tip of the diamond, while Watters was finding joy getting in behind the Boro defence and turning the centre-backs towards their own goal.
But there was nothing in terms of clear-cut chances until just before the half-hour mark, when a Boro break opened up gaps all over the place and Cardiff were left scrambling as the ball found its way to Tavernier’s feet 25 yards from goal.
With acres of space and too much time, the Boro man looked up, picked his spot and drilled a shot low and hard towards the Cardiff goal. Dillon Phillips got down to it, got a hand on it, even, but could only watch it slide off his fingertips and into the back of the net.
Cardiff gave as good as they got up until that point. Indeed, straight after the goal it was those two, Colwill and Watters, who combined for one of City’s better chances.
Colwill embarked on a strong run, barging through two challenges, before feeding his striker in the box. Watters took a touch but the subsequent shot was tame and too easy for Luke Daniels in the Boro goal.
Despite Boro appearing to be in the ascendancy as the half wore on, it was Cardiff who would have the best opportunity before the break. It was Colwill who was the architect again as he skipped past his marker before slotting in Hugill, who blazed a first-time shot narrowly over the bar on the half-time whistle.
But the hosts really ramped up the pace in the second half and the pressure soon meant Cardiff’s defence was breached again. A loose pass from Drameh saw Jonny Howson break with the ball through the heart of Cardiff’s defence before slotting a pass through to McGree in the box. The Boro man hit a low, hard shot which deflected off Nelson and bobbled over Phillips into the net.
Watters had a couple of chances soon after, one of which was tipped over the bar by Daniels and another was a cross-cum-shot which looped over the goalkeeper and pinged off the bar. It was that sort of night on Teesside.
As the game drew to its conclusion, Boro looked like the only team likely to score. Cardiff had run out of juice and ideas, while Boro looked like a side who were fighting tooth and nail for their spot in the Championship’s top six.
Sol Bamba, of all people, came agonisingly close just minutes before time, when he met a fizzed Paddy McNair cross at the back post. Somehow, though, Ivorian could not steer it in at the back post.
He walked away, smiling at his missed chance, but there were no such grins on any Cardiff faces as the game ebbed to its conclusion.
With just one win since March 16, the Bluebirds can only look forward to this season ending and the next one beginning.
Middlesbrough: Daniels; Jones, Dijksteel, Bamba, McNair, Bola; Tavernier, Howson, McGree; Watmore (Connolly 75), Balogun (Sporar 61). Subs: Lumley, Hall, Payero, Peltier, Coburn.
Cardiff City: Phillips; Drameh, Denham, Nelson, Ng; Vaulks, Wintle, Doyle, Colwill; Watters (Harris 63), Hugill (Collins 79). Subs: Luthra, Flint, McGuinness, Semenyo, King.
Att: 19,727
Ref: Matthew Donohue (Lancashire).