Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough
23rd October 1230hrs
Football – England – EFL Championship
Pick Away Win & BTTS
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 11/2 odds taken 0914 GMT, Friday 22 October
After seven EFL Championship defeats in a row, the pressure has piled on Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy. This Saturday afternoon, the Bluebirds welcome former manager Neil Warnock and his Middlesbrough team to the Cardiff City Stadium. Defeat for Cardiff is likely to end McCarthy’s reign in the Welsh capital. Can City secure a much-needed victory, or will Boro leave South Wales with an away win? We have the latest odds and top tips for this crucial Championship clash.
Table of Contents
Cardiff City Preview – Can Big Mick save his job in Wales?
Cardiff City made a more than decent enough start to their 2021-22 Championship season, winning three, drawing two and losing one of their opening six matches. After a 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest in mid-September, the Bluebirds were sitting pretty in seventh spot.
However, to say things have gone downhill from there would be a huge understatement. For one reason or another, Cardiff have been dreadful, losing seven Championship matches in a row to drop down to 21st. Since a 3-1 league win over Millwall on 21st August, City have lost nine of ten in all competitions.
Cardiff will be desperate to stop the rot with a positive result from this one. Despite their alarming form, they are actually the slight favourites at 11/8.
Middlesbrough Preview – Will Boro make it four wins in five?
Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough have been inconsistent this season. However, they head to South Wales having won three of their past four in the Championship. Last time out, Boro beat Barnsley 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough have won five times in the Championship this term, with four of those victories coming on their own patch. Their one and only away success came at Nottingham Forest – who were bottom at the time – last month. They have lost three of their last four one the road.
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Middlesbrough are an unpredictable outfit these days, but Warnock will be hoping to pile more misery on his former club by guiding the North Yorkshire club to victory in Cardiff on Saturday. The away is priced at 2/1.
Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough Betting Advice
These two were hard to split last season, with both games ending in draws. In Wales in October, Sheyi Ojo’s goal cancelled out George Saville’s opener. They also drew 1-1 at the Riverside in February, with Paddy McNair rescuing a late point after Sean Morrison had given Cardiff a first-half lead.
Key Facts – Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough Betting Tip
- Cardiff have lost seven league games in a row
- Middlesbrough have taken nine points from the last 12 on offer
- The Bluebirds are just two points above the bottom three
McCarthy’s job in South Wales is hanging by a thread. Defeat will surely see the end of Mick at Cardiff, and we fancy Warnock’s Boro to return to North Yorkshire with all three points. Take advantage of the solid odds of 11/2 for the away win and both teams to score.
Matt Crooks has enjoyed his time at the Riverside since joining from Rotherham United in the summer, netting three Championship goals for Boro. Crooks was on target in Middlesbrough’s midweek win over the Tykes, and the 27-year-old is available at 4/1 to score anytime at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.
The best betting odds for Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough
Cardiff City to win: 11/8 at Bet365
Draw: 23/10 at Bet365
Middlesbrough to win: 2/1 at Bet365
