Middlesbrough

Boro will host the Bluebirds at the Riverside Stadium, with kick-off at 7:45pm. Boro cctv. This fixture has been selected for television broadcast ...

Another key contributor has been Marcus Tavernier, who has chipped in with three goals and five assists this term. Young winger Isiah Jones has broken through into the First Team fold at the Riverside this season, recording nine assists in an impressive debut campaign. A victory for Wilder's men in tonight's game-in-hand would see them climb above Millwall and Blackburn Rovers into seventh spot, leaving them two points behind the Blades with two matches to play.

Middlesbrough will be aiming to boost their hopes of challenging Sheffield United for a play-off spot this evening when they host Cardiff City at the ...

Sol Bamba has featured alongside Paddy McNair and Anfernee Dijksteel in the heart of defence in Fry’s absence and could be in line to make another appearance for Boro today. In the 13 appearances that he has made in the Championship this season, Payero has only managed to show glimpses of his ability as he has produced two direct goal contributions at this level. Boro lost ground on the Blades in the Championship at the weekend as they were forced to settle for a point in their clash with Swansea City.

Chris Wilder revealed he has a checklist of qualities he wants in his squad.

But I’m excited about what we can do and the kind of players we can attract to this football club.” "But we do need to be really active in the transfer market in key areas. There will be plenty more of those chats to firm up targets between now and the window opening on June 10. Wilder continued on future planning: "That list came into those conversations last week when we spoke about what we need to do. The list and Wilder's hopes to rebuild the squad came into the conversation last week when Wilder met with Steve Gibson and Boro's other key recruitment figures as they discussed the future at the club. There is a list I’ve got of 20 things upstairs that is sort of a basic layout of what we need.

English football's second tier is one of the most-watched leagues in Europe with a relentless fixture schedule and the prize of a place in the Premier League on ...

Tommy Doyle (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Attempt blocked.

FOLARIN BALOGUN returns to Middlesbrough's starting line-up for this evening's crucial Championship game with Cardiff City.

Subs: Luhtra (gk), Flint, McGuinness, Semenyo, King, Harris, Collins. Subs: Lumley (gk), Hall, Payero, Sporar, Peltier, Connolly, Coburn. There is no Dael Fry in the squad, with the centre-half still unavailable because of a calf injury despite having returned to training yesterday.

The veteran defender comes up against his old club Cardiff City on Wednesday with Boro needing to win to preserve any realistic hopes of qualifying for the ...

I’m 37, I know the game and how it works so I keep myself fit and we train hard too so when I need to play in the game, I do the business. Everyone knows me at the club, I'm a straight guy, I can handle the truth and I wanted the club to come and be straight with me and say, 'Listen, you're coming back from illness, we want to go in a different direction', whatever it was, just be honest and I will take it. Bamba clinched victory over his old employers when the sides last met in October, and another win at the Riverside would see Boro go within two points of Sheffield United who occupy the final play-off spot. Bamba admitted: "If I am completely honest, I was disappointed by the way the club went about it and the way we finished it. His final appearance for Cardiff might only have been a few minutes off the bench on the final game of the season, but he admitted at the time: "I was absolutely buzzing. That joy and happiness was tarnished somewhat by the manner of his departure from the club.

Middlesbrough are five points outside of the division's top six as things stand, but winning their game in hand against Cardiff tonight would see them up to ...

Out of these three shots in three games, just one has been on target. The Teessiders are winless in five games and have only scored one goal during that time. The forward has started each of Boro’s last three games and has registered three shots during that time, one in each game.

The game at a glance as Middlesbrough beat Cardiff City 2-0 at the Riverside.

But, against a Stoke City side sitting second in the Championship form table, Boro will have to be better on Saturday. For being such an important game, Boro were just a little bit flat and lacking in invention, despite their dominance in terms of possession and territory. Goal difference really could still be a factor in this race for the play-offs, so a couple of goals and a clean sheet is welcome. As it happens, this wasn't quite Boro at their best, which probably shouldn't be that much of a surprise given the recent run of results and struggles for goals. And when Jordan Hugill swept one just over the bar on the stroke of half-time, it was a timely reminder for Boro that they were certainly not comfortable in their lead. Marcus Tavernier had a very good game full of energy and that clinical touch to set Boro on their way.

Yet timing is all and goals from Marcus Tavernier and Riley McGree lifted Boro up to seventh - two points behind Sheffield United with two games remaining.

Middlesbrough moved up to seventh in the Championship table after a 2-0 win against Cardiff Chris Wilder's men had failed to win in five games before the visit of Cardiff to surrender vital ground in the race for a top-six finish. Middlesbrough 2-0 Cardiff: Chris Wilder's side move to within two points of the play-off places after strikes from Marcus Tavernier and Riley McGree seal confident victory over the Bluebirds

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Cardiff City at the Riverside Stadium as goals from Marcus ...

"I'm trying to pick a team that is filled with people that are going to be here next year and that are in the best form. When you step over the white line, you have to have that inner burning desire and belief to win, to be the best version of yourself you can and we'll keep asking them to do that every day and hope we get a result in the last two games." In two-thirds of the pitch, I thought we were really good, but we just didn't have anything in the final third. They had a little bit more possession, so we had to make sure we dealt with one ball and I felt we dealt with that. As soon as we got our noses in front, there was a little bit more belief flowing through our veins and we were a little bit better. Hopefully we'll have a bumper crowd here on Saturday to get right behind the boys because the players will need that."

6 Daniels: Made a couple of routine saves as Cardiff threatened from outside the area, but was never seriously extended. 7 Dijksteel: Prevented Cardiff's ...

Middlesbrough closed to within two points of the Sky Bet Championship play-off places as they claimed a much-needed 2-0 win over Cardiff.

Crucially, they made it count. Boro went into the game knowing they had to win to keep any realistic hopes of securing a play-off place alive, but while they dominated possession from the outset, it took them a while to create a meaningful opportunity. A first-half finish from Marcus Tavernier and deflected second-half strike from Riley McGree settled things for the Teessiders and enabled them to climb to seventh in the table.

Middlesbrough closed to within two points of the Sky Bet Championship play-off places as they claimed a much-needed 2-0 win over Cardiff.

Crucially, they made it count. Boro went into the game knowing they had to win to keep any realistic hopes of securing a play-off place alive, but while they dominated possession from the outset, it took them a while to create a meaningful opportunity. Middlesbrough closed to within two points of the Sky Bet Championship play-off places as they claimed a much-needed 2-0 win over Cardiff.

Luke Daniels - 7. Not tested much but he did everything he had to with comfort and kicked well too. Anfernee Dijksteel - 7 ...

But was ultimately a bit pedestrian and lacked movement to help stretch Cardiff. A leader's display on a big night for Boro. Protected the defence excellently by reading the game and providing big tackles. Result made it a happy birthday for the Northern Irishman.

Goals from Marcus Tavernier and Riley McGree lifted Boro above Millwall and Blackburn into seventh in the Sky Bet Championship table, two points adrift of sixth ...

We keep working, keep creating the chances and keep getting into the areas, but people have to take them. “They didn’t have to work hard for their goals – we gave the ball away and they punished us. “We just have to rest and recover now ahead of the weekend. Morison said: “We just weren’t good enough in the final third. We found it and then we tried to play. The first goal was a big one, it settled us down and was a big moment we needed as we talked about.

Middlesbrough are having a successful season under Chris Wilder but it's starting to get a bit nervy as we reach the climax of the season.

Chris Wilder made the slightest of tactical tweaks as Middlesbrough beat Cardiff City 2-0.

The shape and structure of the team was really good, we countered and 2-0 is a really good result on a really big night for us.” It really is a go for shape and what it allows is you to dominate the ball, but it does leave you a little open. Luke’s had one save to make just after our second goal, which was an important one but I thought the shape and structure was really good.

Dael Fry and Matt Crooks have both missed Middlesbrough's recent games.

There is of course the obvious concern about fatigue ahead of Saturday too, with Boro having just two days recovery time before that game, whereas Stoke - sitting second in the Championship form table right now - have had a free week. But he should be available for the weekend, and with Crooksy coming back too, I’m delighted I’ve got a couple of little options that I need to sort out." And in his absence, Riley McGree has taken his opportunity, scoring two in the last two, making Crooks' path back into the side a less than obvious one despite his importance to Wilder's side earlier in the season.

Jake Farrar eats Yorkshire Puddings every day - and even enjoys them with jam as a dessert!

They are the food of the gods. The Middlesbrough dad spoke to Yorkshire Live about his love for Yorkshire Puddings, he said: "They just taste so nice. And sometimes they feature in more than one of Jake's courses.

Here are some of the things you might have missed up at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night.

It saw Vaulks and Howson come together, as well as James Collins who had pelted it across the pitch to back up his team-mate, in a handbags moment, resulting in both of them getting booked. Cardiff's midfielder snapped back as the pair became embroiled in a heated debate before Vaulks was told to get back in position by his fellow team-mates. On command, when the travelling Cardiff faithful called for the Ivorian to do the ayatollah, he did not hesitate and obliged immediately. In the second half, though, he took a more traditional approach and ventured down to the touchline. While Will Vaulks tends to split opinion among City fans, his passion for the cause can never be doubted. In the two outings Bamba has had against his former club this season, he has been fantastic.

Chris Wilder is delighted that Middlesbrough will be heading into their penultimate game of the season at the weekend with their promotion hopes still very ...

We found it and then we tried to play. “We just have to rest and recover now ahead of the weekend. The first goal was a big one, it settled us down and was a big moment we needed as we talked about.

Middlesbrough won 2-0 in midweek against the Bluebirds thanks to goals from Marcus Tavernier and Riley McGree. But they had to win without both Dael Fry and ...

It was believed Fry would be fit to play against Cardiff yesterday evening, but manager Chris Wilder revealed it wasn’t worth the risk. He didn’t quite make it for this game, but I’d think he’ll definitely be available for the Stoke game. “Dael didn’t make it.

Sheffield United head into tomorrow night's match at QPR knowing destiny is still in their own hands. Not only that, they have a huge opportunity to pile ...

Middlesbrough would go level on points with a win and could leapfrog them depending on their goal difference. Middlesbrough would move into sixth with a win and Blackburn would also reel the Blades in with three points. Victory for the Blades could also see them jump up into fifth with Luton not playing until Monday night. Until it is mathematically done, any team that has not got the job mathematically done will want to get it done, whether it is Luton against Fulham or Sheffield United on Friday night or whatever. A 2-0 win over Cardiff at the Riverside saw Chris Wilder's side narrow the gap to just two points with two games remaining. Middlesbrough are at home to Stoke, Blackburn entertain automatic-promotion chasers Bournemouth, while Millwall play host to already-relegated Peterborough.

Veterans Jonny Howson and Sol Bamba led by example for Middlesbrough as they recorded a vital 2-0 win over Cardiff City to keep play-off dreams alive.

An important goal to settle early nerves for Boro, Tavernier took a lovely first touch to get Folarin Balogun's pass out of his feel before smashing it low across the goal and into the bottom corner. Despite the clear quality and importance to Boro that he has, the one thing that has otherwise eluded his fledgeling career. They know they'll have to better against Stoke in Saturday, but nevertheless, a win is a win and those three points ensure the season is alive and kicking. But equally, both are limited in terms of attacking ability and, as Wilder looks to put his stamp on the squad this summer, might the decision be that they ultimately part ways with a 'thank you' and a handshake? They dominated possession and created the better of the chances throughout, but those chances were few and far between as they were just a little flat in terms of their attacking intent. He doesn't look like a player yet ready to retire, and when you factor in his value in terms of leadership and also the fact he does plenty of coaching now too, he would be good value for another 12-months contract.