Cardiff City play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking to earn their first win of the new Championship campaign.
At a time when the Bluebirds sit in bottom place of the standings, Middlesbrough are in 11th position despite only having one victory under their belt.
Match preview
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When Middlesbrough began the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Swansea City in the league and a 3-0 triumph at Leeds United in the EFL Cup, everything appeared on track for Michael Carrick.
Since then, though, Boro have suffered a late 1-0 defeat to Derby County and a 5-0 humbling at home to Stoke City in the EFL Cup second round on Tuesday night.
Sandwiched in between was a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Portsmouth at the Riverside Stadium, all three games highlighting that there is much work ahead for the North-East outfit.
Carrick will be conscious that a slow start to last season ultimately cost the club a chance of making the playoffs, and defeat here would see them drop into the bottom half of the table heading into the international break.
On a positive note, Boro still have the memory of thrashing Cardiff in last season's corresponding fixture, prevailing 4-1 on April 27.
Meanwhile, Cardiff will be frustrated with their own start to 2024-25, propping up the table having only earned their one and only point last weekend.
That came in the Welsh derby at Swansea City, Callum Robinson scoring 11 minutes from time to earn the Bluebirds a share of the spoils.
Erol Bulut will also have been left impressed with the resolve shown against Southampton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, his side getting back on level terms on as many as three occasions before their Premier League opponents scored twice in the closing stages for a 5-3 victory.
That said, aside from a clean sheet being kept against Bristol Rovers, Cardiff have now conceded 15 times in the other four fixtures in all competitions.
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Team News
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Having made 11 changes for the EFL Cup, Cardiff boss Bulut is likely to revert to a similar side to the one that started at Swansea.
Alex Robertson's place had been under threat from Rubin Colwill, but his goal in the defeat to Southampton may see him retain his spot.
Will Fish may be in contention to be named in the squad for the first time since his arrival from Manchester United.
The Middlesbrough starting lineup will also be similar to their last league outing with none of the much-changed side for the Stoke debacle doing themselves any favours.
Carrick revealed that the half-time substitution of Luke Ayling was pre-planned and that the defender did not sustain an injury issue.
Daniel Barlaser is realistically the only player from Tuesday night who could earn himself an opportunity in the first XI.
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Horvath; Ng, Chambers, Daland, O'Dowda; Siopis, Robertson; Meite, Ramsey, Willock; Kanga
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dijksteel, Ayling, Clarke, Engel; Morris, Hackney; Jones, Azaz, Burgzorg; Latte Lath
We say: Cardiff City 1-3 Middlesbrough
On the back of a morale-boosting showing against Southampton, Cardiff will be optimistic about overcoming Boro on Saturday. Nevertheless, we feel that the visitors will shake off their humbling in midweek and post a convincing victory.
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Darren Plant
