It feels like this game could be a turning point in Cardiff City's history.
Saturday 23rd October, 2021. ko 12:30pm.
Live on Sky Sports
Defeat to Neil Warnock's side (Probably to a Sol Bamba goal) would spell the worst run of League defeats in the clubs history. It would almost certainly mean the end of Mick McCarthy as Cardiff manager and it could see the club in the bottom three at the end of the day. A meteoric and shambolic crash after a promoising start to the season.
A draw probably won't be enough to save McCarthy but it would avoid an unwanted record.
A home win might give him an extra game but surely that would only be buying time before the inevitable.
Following on from Wednesday night's improvement in formation, team selection and playing style it will be interesting to see what line up is annouced at 11.30am.
Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy & former manager Neil Warnock talk about the reception Warnock might receive from Bluebirds fans on Saturday ⚽ pic.twitter.com/EQaMO9Lgfd
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) October 23, 2021
Match facts
- Cardiff City are unbeaten in their last six league games against Middlesbrough (W4 D2) since losing 3-1 back in February 2016 under Russell Slade.
- Middlesbrough are winless in four away league matches against Cardiff (D1 L3) since a 1-0 win in 2014-15 and have only scored once in those four winless games.
- Cardiff have lost their last five home matches in all competitions, their worst losing run since October 1974, which was also a run of five. The Bluebirds have never lost six consecutive home matches in a row.
- Middlesbrough have failed to score in four of their last five away Championship matches (W1 D1 L3), winning the other 2-0 at Nottingham Forest. They haven’t failed to score in three consecutive away Championship matches since January 2015.
- In five away league matches at the Cardiff City Stadium, current Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock is winless (D4 L1), with only Gary Rowett and Nigel Clough (six each) managing more there as an away manager without winning.
Match officials:
Referee: JEREMY SIMPSON
Assistants: Lee Venamore and Akil Howson
Fourth Official : Charles Breakspear