High-Scoring Cardiff Travel To High-Flying Boro

Middlesbrough could find themselves in the automatic promotion places tonight (19:45) should they manage to record a win over outside play-off contenders Cardiff City. Despite being one of the league`s most proficient goal scoring sides, the Welsh club have struggled to pick up wins recently, earning themselves one victory in the league since the end of November.

This win came a fortnight ago when one goal proved enough to see off fellow mid-table side Fulham at home. Sean Morrison headed in the only goal of the match in the first quarter-of-an-hour. This followed a Cardiff City Stadium victory against League One Colchester in the FA Cup. Russell Slade`s men grabbed three goals to the Essex side`s one. City have hit the back of the net 14 times in the last seven games, giving them a solid average of two goals a match in all competitions. Coral have priced the Bluebirds up at 9/2 to continue this high-scoring record and bag over 1.5 goals tonight.

Such a big price reflects the fact that Boro are yet to concede a goal this year despite playing three times. What`s more, Aitor Karanka`s side have also kept five clean sheets in all of their five previous games in all competitions.

This run began with the North East club`s 3-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest. George Friend grabbed the second half opener whilst Jelle Vossen doubled up and Grand Leadbitter provided the third from the penalty spot.

An encounter away at Blackburn Rovers ended goalless before Boro travelled to League One Barnsley in the FA Cup in the teams` first match of 2015. Vossen and defender Daniel Ayala grabbed a goal without reply to see the Riverside Stadium outfit through to the fourth round.

The fourth placed team recorded another goalless draw on the road against Reading before hitting Huddersfield for two back in Tyneside. Lee Tomlin grabbed a brace as the Smoggies overturned the Terriers to stretch their unbeaten run at home to ten games.

Having each scored two goals in their team`s last five clashes, Tomlin and Vossen are in form at the moment. bet365 and betfred have priced Tomlin up at 2/1 to add to his goal tally at any time whilst Belgian Vossen is 7/4 with a number of bookmakers.

Indeed, their home advantage and superior league position means that Middlesbrough have been installed as the 4/7 favourites (Numerous) to pick up all three points from the match-up. Cardiff can be backed at 25/4 with unibet whilst a draw is available at 16/5 at various betting establishments.

The last time the two teams met in the league in September, Boro ran out the 1-0 winners thanks to Kike`s goal after 90 seconds. Eleven to two with a quartet of bookmakers (betway, Betvictor, boylesports, william hill) says the result will be with same this time around, whilst it is 5/1 (Numerous) should you think the Spaniard will grab the opener again tonight.

Home fans will be further buoyed by the news that Karanka will be able to select his first eleven from a full strength squad and could make a series of changes from the team that beat Huddersfield with this clash coming just three days after the 2-0 win.

The task of the Bluebirds has been made more difficult by the hip injury suffered by top scorer Kenwyne Jones. The 10-time scorer left the field of play during his side`s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Norwich at the weekend and is a doubt for tonight`s game.

First-choice goalkeeper David Marshall definitely misses out with an ankle problem, as does midfielder Anthony Pilkington who is sidelined with a hamstring complaint.

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