Matt Clarke’s goal was his first of the season
Middlesbrough claimed a resounding 4-1 victory at Cardiff City as the Bluebirds suffered their heaviest home defeat of the season.
Matt Clarke’s close-range volley gave Michael Carrick’s side the lead at the end of a first half in which they had created the better opportunities.
Dimitrios Goutas hit the woodwork for Cardiff before clinical finishing saw Middlesbrough take total control on their final away day of the campaign.
Finn Azaz steered in Boro’s second goal and leading scorer Emmanuel Latte Lath’s pace and composure brought him a 10th goal in his last 11 appearances.
Alex Gilbert struck a fine fourth goal before Josh Bowler swept in a late reply for Cardiff, who are left wondering whether this will be a final home game in charge for boss Erol Bulut.
With his contract set to expire this summer, Bulut is waiting to hear whether owner Vincent Tan will offer him the chance to lead Cardiff next season.
This was a fifth defeat in eight matches for Bulut’s inconsistent side, who drop to 12th in the table, while eighth-placed Middlesbrough are guaranteed a top-10 finish.
The Teessiders had seen play-off hopes come to end on Monday night, when defeat to Leeds halted a nine-game unbeaten run.
They almost presented Cardiff with an ideal start, with a loose pass in midfield handing possession to David Turnbull, whose lofted, 35-yard effort was heading for the net until a scrambling Seny Dieng pawed the ball over the bar.
Cardiff came again, with Goutas’ header bouncing too high, before Middlesbrough’s first sight of goal saw Latte Lath denied by the onrushing Ethan Horvath.
Cardiff’s goalkeeper was soon in action again, beating away Luke Thomas’ fierce drive, before the opener came from a set-piece.
After Azaz lifted a free-kick into the area, Clarke got away from Famara Diedhiou and saw his cushioned volley bounce in off the bar.
Cardiff were beaten at home in the Championship for the 10th time this season
Chances continued to flow after the break, with Cardiff denied as Goutas’ header was turned on to the post by the diving Dieng.
Middlesbrough immediately made the home side pay, as Alex Gilbert drove into the Cardiff area and the ball rolled into the path of Azaz, who lifted home from point-blank range.
Bowler’s run quickly presented Turnbull with a similar chance at the other end, but the Scot’s shot drifted narrowly wide.
Once more Cardiff were left to rue the missed opportunity, as Azaz sent a clearance over the top and Latte Lath raced away from the home rearguard before coolly beating Horvath.
Luke Ayling then crossed for Gilbert to extend the lead with a sweet first-time strike, before Bowler rolled into an empty net in added time after Dieng’s loose pass.
Line-ups
Cardiff
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Horvath
2Romeo12Phillips4Goutas32Tanner
23Siopis8Ralls
14Bowler15Turnbull45Ashford
20 Diédhiou
- 1Horvath
- 2RomeoSubstituted forConteat 57’minutes
- 12Phillips
- 4Goutas
- 32TannerSubstituted forGilesat 77’minutes
- 23SiopisSubstituted forColwillat 57’minutes
- 8RallsSubstituted forWintleat 68’minutes
- 14Bowler
- 15Turnbull
- 45Ashford
- 20DiédhiouSubstituted forRobinsonat 68’minutes
Substitutes
- 6Wintle
- 19Sawyers
- 34Colwill
- 36Conte
- 37Lawlor
- 41Turner
- 47Robinson
- 48 Antwi
- 49Giles
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
1 Serve
12Ayling3van den Berg5Clarke33Thomas
16Howson4Barlaser
11Jones14Gilbert20Azaz
9Latte Lath
- 1 Do
- 12Ayling
- 3van den BergSubstituted forDijksteelat 74’minutes
- 5Clarke
- 33Thomas
- 16HowsonSubstituted forMcCabeat 62’minutes
- 4Barlaser
- 11JonesSubstituted for Silveraat 61’minutes
- 14GilbertSubstituted forLennonat 74’minutes
- 20Azaz
- 9Latte LathSubstituted forMatthewsat 83’minutes
Substitutes
- 15Dijksteel
- 18Silvera
- 24Bangura
- 28O’Brien
- 29Greenwood
- 48 Lennon
- 49McCabe
- 51Connor
- 53Matthews
Referee:Jeremy Simpson
Attendance:22,999
Live Text
Match ends, Cardiff City 1, Middlesbrough 4.
Second Half ends, Cardiff City 1, Middlesbrough 4.
Matt Clarke (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Cian Ashford (Cardiff City).
Goal! Cardiff City 1, Middlesbrough 4. Josh Bowler (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum Robinson.
Attempt missed. Joel Colwill (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by David Turnbull following a corner.
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Foul by Luke Thomas (Middlesbrough).
Josh Bowler (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Ajay Matthews replaces Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Attempt missed. Josh Bowler (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Substitution, Cardiff City. Luey Giles replaces Ollie Tanner.
Attempt missed. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josh Bowler with a cross.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Charlie Lennon replaces Alex Gilbert.
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Anfernee Dijksteel replaces Rav van den Berg.
Foul by Law McCabe (Middlesbrough).
Raheem Conte (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Cardiff City. Ryan Wintle replaces Joe Ralls.
Substitution, Cardiff City. Callum Robinson replaces Famara Diédhiou.
Luke Thomas (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
2024-04-27 16:01:19
#Cardiff #City #Middlesbrough #Clarke #Azaz #Latte #Lath #Howson #give #Boro #win
