Middlesbrough are in desperate need of a win to revive their slim promotion playoff hopes as they host Cardiff City in a midweek Championship fixture. Neither team has been at their best lately but Boro will be banking on home support to give them the edge here.
Sitting five points off the top six with three matches left to play, Middlesbrough head into Wednesday’s clash with their playoff hopes on the line. They have struggled to find their best form lately and are without a win in their last five Championship matches.
Although the poor run is worrying, Middlesbrough have begun to show signs of improvement lately. They recently held Bournemouth to a 0-0 draw and also played out a 1-1 scoreline in their previous fixture last Saturday.
Before their recent struggles, the Riverside Stadium had been a solid stronghold for Middlesbrough and manager Chris Wilder will feel they are due a win in front of their fans. They have seen off some of the big sides this season with Luton Town and Nottingham Forest among their scalps at home.
The season looks set to end with a whimper for Cardiff City, who are just going through the motions at the moment. They have retained their Championship status for another season but are well off the pace for even a top 10 finish.
Cardiff City’s recent form seems to reflect their current situation as they have claimed just one win from their last five matches. Steve Morison’s men have suffered four defeats in that run and were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United in their previous fixture.
Things are surprisingly slightly better for Cardiff City on their travels with wins over QPR and Reading among their results away from home. However, they have lost their last two away matches with a 2-1 defeat at Hull City preceding the loss at Sheffield United.
How the bookies view it
Despite their struggles, Middlesbrough are still considered overwhelming favourites among the bookies with a home win priced at 6/10 with BoyleSports. A victory for Cardiff City is valued at 11/2 by Betfred while SBK is offering odds of 3/1 for a draw.
Recent head to head
Middlesbrough are unbeaten in the last three matches against Cardiff City and claimed a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture back in October.
Players to watch
Middlesbrough were back on the score sheet last time out after a lengthy spell without a goal. They will be keen to build on that and Duncan Watmore could be the one to watch on Wednesday at 29/20 with Unibet.
Cardiff City have also not been particularly convincing going forward but will be banking on Jordan Hugill to provide the spark in attack. The striker often leads the line for the Welsh side and is priced at 16/5 with Unibet.
Anything else catch the eye?
Defending has been a major problem for Middlesbrough and Cardiff City which means both teams are likely to score at 42/41 with SBK. Over 2.5 goals can also be considered at evens with Sport Nation.
Both teams are likely to serve up a cagey opening on Wednesday which means the second half can be tipped as the highest scoring half at 11/10 with Paddy Power. Given the minimal odds for a Middlesbrough victory, a win and over 2.5 goals could offer more value at 13/8 with BoyleSports.
This England Championship match between Middlesbrough and Cardiff City will be played on Apr 27, 2022 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
