MATCH FACTS: CARDIFF VS MIDDLESBROUGH
Club News
15th September
Cardiff City vs Middlesbrough
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: Tuesday 16th September 2014, 7.45pm KO
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER
Cardiff City have their second home game in a row as Aitor Karanka brings his side to the Welsh capital. Boro enter the game as the Championship’s 11th placed team off the back of three points away at Huddersfield Town. Ole Gunnar Solskjær's men lost their first home game on Saturday and will hope to return to winning ways come Tuesday night.
Tickets for this match are still available including our family tickets - 2 adults and 2 children for just £40. Please call 0845 345 1400 or buy tickets online now
MATCH FACTS
- Tuesday's match could see new signing Bruno Ecuele Manga make his Cardiff City debut.
- Grant Leadbitter has started the season in great form with six goals already this term, three being penalties.
- Jelle Vossen could make his first start after a 30-minute stint off the bench against Huddersfield last time out.
- Dimi Konstantopoulos is likely to start between the sticks on Tuesday night, the Greek made nine appearances for the Bluebirds back in 2009 including an own goal on his debut at Wolves.
- Boro have had a mixed start in the league with three wins and three draws, two of those wins have come away from the Riverside.
KEY OPPOSITION PLAYER: Grant Leadbitter
Leadbitter is the current Championship top scorer with five league goals; three of these have come from the penalty spot. The Sunderland academy product has already matched last seasons goal tally. He is not limited to goals from inside the box as he proved on the weekend. His sublime 35 yard free kick led many to compare the goal to Roberto Carlos’ famous strike against France in 1997. The 28 year old midfielder was capped at every age level from U16’s through to U21’s for England and could prove a thorn in City’s side Tuesday night.
ONE TO WATCH: Kike
Enrique Garcia Martinez, or Kike as he is more commonly known is Middlesbrough’s Spanish striker. He has three goals to his name so far in the campaign after scoring on his debut against Birmingham City. He joined this summer for a fee in the region of £2.7 million after already working with manager Karanka in the Spanish youth setup. He scored 48 goals in 150 games for former side Murcia and could prove a real hit on Teesside.
RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS)
Cardiff City: WWLWDL
Last time out: Cardiff City 2-4 Norwich City -Saturday 13th August 2014,Sky Bet Championship
It was a tale of two halves at the Cardiff City Stadium as the Bluebirds slumped to 4-2 defeat at the hands of Norwich. Three points looked destined to be staying in the Welsh capital when Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson had given City a two-goal cushion going into the break. It was very nearly three-nil after the interval when Macheda went close but soon the game was turned on its head. The scores were level in just four minutes when Olsson and Hoolahan scored in the 54th and 58th minutes and by the 70th Michael Turner had given the Canaries the lead. Three minutes from time former Bluebird Cameron Jerome struck the finishing blow. He ensured the three points were heading on the long journey back to Norfolk.
Cardiff City: Marshall, Fabio (John), Brayford, Connolly, Morrison, Pilkington (Adeyemi), Whitingham, Ralls, Gunnarsson, Jones (Maynard), Macheda. Subs Not Used: Moore, Cala, Le Fondre, Dæhli.
Middlesbrough: LWLWLW
Last time out: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Middlesbrough -Saturday 13th August 2014,Sky Bet Championship
Two goals from Grant Leadbitter gave Boro all three points at the John Smith Stadium on Saturday. John Stead had appeared to restrict the visitors to a point when he equalised in the 86th minute but with 92 minutes on the clock Leadbitter converted from the penalty spot. The opening goal came from a stunning 35 yard free kick that left Huddersfield ‘keeper Smithies with no chance of stopping it. Leadbitter’s brace ensure Middlesbrough of their second win on the road this season.
Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos; Damia, Gibson, Ayala, Friend, Adomah (Nsue), Clayton, Leadbitter, Reach, Tomlin (Vossen), Kike (Bamford). Subs Not Used: Blackman, Woodgate, Whitehead, Wildschut
LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING
2013/14: Saturday 2nd March 2013, Championship: Middlesbrough 2-1 Cardiff City
Goals from debutant Sammy Ameobi and the veteran Kieron Dyer cut Cardiff’s lead at the top of the Championship down to five points. A poor start proved costly for City as Boro had a two-nil lead after just 17 minutes. Gunnarsson had reduced the arrears to just one when he headed from six yards in the 67th minute. There was a chance for Fraizer Campbell a penalty shout for handball but it was not enough to gain City a point after the long trip north.
Middlesbrough: Steele, Friend, McManus, Hines, Leadbitter, Ameobi (Emnes), Bailey, Dyer (Ledesma), McEachran, McDonald, Miller (Main). Subs Not Used: Leutwiler, Williams, Halliday, Smallwood.
Cardiff City: Marshall, McNaughton (Nugent), Taylor, Turner, Connolly, Whittingham, Conway, Smith (Helguson) Gunnarsson, Campbell, Bellamy (Noone). Subs Not Used: Lewis, Cowie, Kim, Mason
Tickets for this match are still available including our family tickets - 2 adults and 2 children for just £40. Please call 0845 345 1400 or buy tickets online now
