Cardiff vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-04-26 14:00.
[p]Although Cardiff’s legal proceedings against Nantes have dominated much of the headlines in the build up to their penultimate Championship game, the matter of manager Erol Bulut’s future has been rumbling away in the background. After successive relegation battles, the boss looks to be leading them to a ship steadying top-half finish, leading large portions of the fanbase to call for a prolonged stay in the hot seat.[/p]
[p]Bulut isn’t doing his chances of getting a contract extension any harm as the Bluebirds have won three of their last five games, with a 2-1 home success against promotion-hunting Southampton bookending that run. Cardiff’s home faithful have one last chance to watch their beloved team here until next season, although the fact they’ve failed to win their last three home H2Hs against Middlesbrough suggests this won’t be easy.[/p]
[p]Now officially only playing for pride, many were surprised at how long Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough remained in the play-off race given their inconsistencies this season. Their nine-match unbeaten run came to an end in a 4-3 defeat to Leeds on Monday, with Carrick left lamenting what was a “clear offside goal” for Leeds, although attention now swiftly turns to ending their season on a high ahead of a fresh promotion push in 2024/25.[/p]
[p]Despite facing the disappointment of defeat, Middlesbrough maintain a five-game unbeaten run of away league games ahead of their final trip of 2023/24 (W2, D3). With nine away league wins this term, this is the final opportunity for Middlesbrough to notch at least ten in a single campaign for the first time since 2018/19, and they may be quietly confident of doing so after posting a five game unbeaten run against Welsh opponents (W4, D1). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Famara Diédhiou may be in line for a start after scoring as a substitute last time out, and he will relish another game against Boro after making three goal contributions in his latest personal H2H (G2, A1). Boro’s Isaiah Jones signed a new contract with the club before striking first against Leeds in what was his first losing scoring appearance this season (W6). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Middlesbrough have kept just three away league clean sheets this season (14%), more than only two other sides. [/p]