Middlesbrough 2-0 Cardiff City : Boro keep play-off push alive with win over poor Bluebirds LIVE stream and score updates in EFL Championship

A poor game, but a professional enough showing to keep Middlesbrough's play-off push alive with their first win in six games.

Goals from Marcus Tavernier and Riley McGree see off The Bluebirds, who probably dream of the end of the season coming.

I've been Louis Wheeldon (LouisWheeldonNS on Twitter) and I thank you for being with us, goodnight! 

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Jonny Howson takes away our man of the match award tonight.

His driving in the midfield and his passing have kept things ticking all night long. 

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Vaulks and Howson both in the book; Vaulks for a late lunge, and Howson for his reaction to it.

Harris is picked out over the top and in behind, but out comes Daniels to take the ball off of his toe.

That's the closest Cardiff have come.

A cheap yellow for Jones as he kicks the ball away. 

Sol Bamba, so close! 

An excellent Howson ball to the back post is begging to be tapped home, and Bamba's stretched leg is the closest anyone gets to doing so.

It's been three years since his last goal, but he was centimetres away from getting one there!

Not been a great game to watch as a neutral, this.

A distinct lack of spark and energy from both sides, despite the two goals, and that will not encourage Chris Wilder ahead of two vital final games of the season.

The result, however, certainly will. 

Second swap for Cardiff as James Collins replaces Hugill.

Not his night.

Jones gets a knee in the back and stays down.

That is certainly not someone Middlesbrough will want to lose now. 

Brighton-loanee Aaron Connolly is on to replace Watmore.

Tavernier takes aim from distance, but it lands on the moon.

Jones makes one of his trademark darts into the area, but Nelson comes across to cover well.

Andrez Sporar is on, Balogun goes off.

Mark Harris is also on to replace Max Watters for the visitors, too. 

McGree should have a second!

Howson instigates an attack gorgeously, and a driving run off the ball from McGree is met by Bola's cross, but the Australian heads it wide from close range.

Luke Daniels was nearly caught out big time, there!

Watters' cross from the right-hand side bounces off the top of the bar.

Middlesbrough really strutting their stuff now! Watmore dances away in the middle before releasing Jones, who's effort just skips wide of the far post.

Middlesbrough are doing just what they had to do, and it's the Australian with his second for the club that places 'Boro into the ascendancy.

Boro pile forward, and Howson slips in McGree on the right, and his shot across goal takes a huge deflection into the net!

Howson has a dig from range that is blocked by the Cardiff back-line.

Cardiff get the ball rolling for this second half.

Marcus Tavernier's first half: 

- 84.6% pass accuracy

- 1 key pass

- 100% long ball accuracy

- 1 goal

The skipper doing his part!

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And the teams go in at the break. Tavernier's wonderful strike the difference.

Jordan Hugill has to do better.

Colwill has been great in this half for Cardiff, and his ball across the edge for Hugill is flashed over by the 'Boro-born striker. Poor.

Watmore has a go from a tight angle, and stings the palms of Phillips.

Ryan Wintle is next in the book for Cardiff after hauling down Watmore on the break.

Watters has a chance from the left to restore parity, but see's his shot beaten away.

Jones does really well to break free of his marker on the right, but doesn't pick out Balogun as he should.

What a way to break a four-game duck! The ball is set back to Tavernier by Balogun after some lovely recycled play up the right, and the captain hits a skidding drive into the bottom corner from range.

Boro need to get it right tonight, and that is some way to go about it!

Nelson is booked after hauling down Balogun off the ball as the forward looked to get onto a through ball from Bola.

Bola sends a cross in from the left which is easily caught by Phillips. Neither side showing much energy at the minute.

Really encouraging stuff now from Middlesbrough; Jones fizzes a ball across the box but it's just an inch or two away from Watmore and Balogun.

Middlesbrough wake up as Bola picks out Watmore with a beautiful ball, but Nelson does well to wriggle it away from the former Sunderland man.

Watters finding a bit of room to stretch his legs on the right, but his final ball is blocked away.

And the action is underway at The Riverside.

Get your things together, get your tweets sent out and settle down; we're almost ready to start.

One more time? Please?

And now the team for Cardiff City this evening.

Not sure what happened there! Here is the Middlesbrough side. 

Just five minutes until the team news is released for both sides.

The last time these two sides squared off, it cost Mick McCarthy his job as Middlesbrough, then under the tutelage of Neil Warnock, ran out as 2-0 winners in Cardiff to condemn The Bluebirds to an eight loss on the bounce.

Our friend John Lupo reported on the action; his take on the action can be found here.

Middlesbrough: Daniels, Dijksteel, Bamba, McNair, Jones, Tavernier, Howson, Bola, McGree, Watmore, Balogun

Cardiff: Phillips, Ng, Nelson, Denham, Drameh, Vaulks, Wintle, Bagan, Doyle, Colwill, Hugill

Tonight's referee will be Matthew Donohue. He will be accompanied by Philip Dermott, Richard Wild and Leigh Doughty.

Now I am far from a successful gambler, but with both teams misfiring and leaking goals at the back, I can see this one ending goalless.

Since signing on-loan from Leeds United in the January window, Cody Drameh has been a revelation for Cardiff at right-back.

He'll need to be at his best again tonight if Cardiff want to get more consistency in their form.

Prior to their last game, a 1-1 draw with Swansea, 'Boro had failed to hit the back of the net for four games.

In the draw with The Swans, it was young Australian Riley McGree who finally broke that duck in just his eight appearance on Teeside.

He'll be playing with confidence after that, and I would back him to do well again tonight.

 

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These two sides have faced each other a total of 68 times through history.

Of those games, Middlesbrough have come out on top 22 times.

Cardiff City have managed to come away with a win 33 times.

The game has ended as a draw on 13 separate occasions.

The Bluebirds have nothing to play for tonight but pride and table consolidation. 

They boast just one win in their last five games, and have suffered three straight defeats after a 2-1 win over Reading and 4-0 derby loss to Swansea.

The threat of relegation is no more, however, with Peterborough being relegated by Nottingham Forest last Saturday, so Steve Morrison's team can play with the shackles off.

There's no doubt about it, tonight is a must-win game for Chris Wilder's men if they want any slim hope of ending the season in the play-offs.

They've failed to win any of their last five games, and sit five points off of sixth.

Tonight, however, is their game in hand over those above them, so they are presented with an opportunity to close the gap to two points.

Live coverage of the match will be available on Sky Sports Football and Main Event.

Welcome to VAVEL! My name is Louis Wheeldon, and I will be your host for todays game. Join us right here on VAVEL for live updates, pre-game analysis and live news.

Opened in 1995, the stadium has been home to Middlesbrough FC since their move from Ayresome Park. It has a capacity of 34,742 fans. 

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