CARDIFF CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH
Saturday September 21st, 3pm
Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge could be in contention against Middlesbrough after a hamstring injury.
Forward Lee Tomlin will be assessed following whiplash injuries sustained in a recent car accident.
Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate has no new injury or suspension problems following their win against Reading.
Skipper George Friend (ruptured tendon) and midfielder Jonny Howson (hernia) missed out last Saturday and both continue to recover from minor surgery.
“I’m looking forward to it. We’ve only had the three league games at home so far this season, so it will be nice to play in front of our home fans again.
Manager comments:
“They have some good players, and we’re going to have to concentrate on ourselves and try to take our opportunities.
“They have one of the best sides in the division if you look at their squad.
“They’re set up well in the Championship, especially with players like [Britt] Assombalonga who can score goals from anywhere.
“Boro will give us a good test and keep us on our toes, so we’ll have to give our supporters something to shout about.”
“Tough place to go. Really tough,” said Jonathan Woodgate when asked about the trip to Wales.
“We will need to roll our sleeves up and really dig in, show determination to really want to defend, and not just the back four. Defend from the front, press from the front and midfield and that should make it easier for the back four.”
Match facts
- The last season Cardiff and Middlesbrough faced, the Bluebirds won both league meetings 1-0, doing so in the 2017-18 season.
- None of the last 24 league meetings - all in the second-tier - have ended as a draw between Cardiff and Middlesbrough (12 wins each).
- In all competitions, Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has won all eight of his home managerial matches against Middlesbrough, doing so with seven different teams.
- Cardiff City have played the highest percentage of their passes long in the Championship this season (24.2%).
- The age gap between Cardiff manager Neil Warnock and Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate is 31 years and 52 says - on the day Woodgate made his league playing debut for Leeds in October 1998, Warnock was managing his 520th match in the Football League (including play-offs).
- Middlesbrough are averaging 52.4% possession in Championship games this season, compared to 43.4% possession last season under Tony Pulis.
Match officials:
DARREN BOND
Adrian Waters and Jonathan Hunt
Fourth Official : Lee Swabey