Saturday 4th January 2025, ko 3:00pm.
Match Officials:
Referee: Tom Nield
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Hunt
Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallison
Fourth Official: Darren Drysdale
Omer Riza
"Michael Carrick has done a great job there with his staff. They've got a great team and they're a very well-structured side.
"They've got good attacking threat and it will be a very tough game. We expect that, as we expect every game to be tough in the Championship.
"We're working hard, we're fighting and our intensity levels are in a good place. We're creating chances and we'll be looking to do the same against Middlesbrough.
"I think the boys have got in their heads now that the intensity is a must in every game that we play," Riza added. "I think it has been there in a lot of the games, but there have been a few where we have let ourselves down in that respect.
"We're in a good place at the moment and hopefully that continues. We've got the balance right and we're creating opportunities, which is important, and we have elements of quality when we've got the ball. We'll be taking that into the game this weekend, we think we can hurt them and we'll look to do that.
"It's a gruelling schedule, we know that, but we're looking for more of the same. Everybody's in the same situation and sometimes, your head rules your heart and you manage to push yourself through with that mental side of it.
"We've done that at Watford, we should have had it against Coventry, but this is the last game in this block, then we have another block of games coming up after that.
"Everybody will get their opportunity, the proof is there with the players that are playing at the moment. We'll keep striving forward and look to pick up as many points as we can."
Match Facts:
Middlesbrough have won six of their last seven league meetings with Cardiff City (L1), including each of the last four.
Cardiff City have won three of their last six away league games against Middlesbrough (D1 L2), though did lose 2-0 in this exact fixture this term.
Middlesbrough have drawn their last two home league games (3-3 v Sheffield Wednesday, 0-0 v Burnley) and could draw three in a row at the Riverside Stadium for the first time since February 2020 under Jonathan Woodgate.
Cardiff City ended a 13-game winless run away from home in the Championship when beating Watford 2-1 in their final game of 2024 – the Bluebirds last won back-to-back matches on the road in April.