Middlesbrough will look to maintain their top-two spot in the Championship table when they welcome Cardiff City to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Boro are second ahead of the lunchtime kick-off on 21 points, just two points behind leaders Swansea City in the Championship standings.
Kim Hellberg's team beat Stoke City 3-2 away from home in midweek, while Cardiff hammered Watford 5-1 in south Wales.
Middlesbrough v Cardiff City Tips Summary
Best Bet - Middlesbrough to win and both teams to score @ 6/4
Alternative Bet - Will Lankshear to score anytime @ 8/11
Bet Builder - Jack Moylan to score & Joel Colwill to be booked @ 16/1
Middlesbrough v Cardiff City Prediction
Best Bet: Middlesbrough to win and both teams to score @ 6/4
After losing in the play-off final last season, Boro could be forgiven for a slow start as they came to terms with their disappointment.
However, Hellberg's team have maintained the same form that got them into the top six last season and they have only lost one game in 10 outings.
The Teessiders have been in fine form in front of goal, having scored 20 goals so far, a record only bettered by West Ham and Southampton.
The hosts extended their unbeaten record to five matches with their win over Stoke, while Cardiff managed to bounce back after a 2-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers last weekend.
Cardiff's win over the Hornets was impressive, but Watford look in disarray once again and the Bluebirds do not travel well.
Brian Barry-Murphy's troops have lost four games in a row away from home and they have only picked up one point away from home, which came against fellow strugglers Derby County.
Boro are unbeaten in six at home, with five wins to their name during that time, and while they should overpower Cardiff, they may not keep a clean sheet.
Hellberg's side have only recorded one shutout in their last six matches, and Cardiff's recent win over Watford suggests they have found their magic touch in front of goal.
Alternative Bet: Will Lankshear to score anytime @ 8/11
Boro moved quickly to sign Will Lankshear from Tottenham in the summer and he has already rewarded them for their hefty outlay.
Lankshear has scored 10 goals in all competitions, with three of those coming in his last four outings.
He has registered 19 shots on target, seven of those also coming in his last four and he is bang in form at the minute.
Middlesbrough v Cardiff City Bet Builder Tip
Jack Moylan to score
Joel Colwill to be booked
Pays @ 16/1
Cardiff were also busy in the transfer market in the summer and the addition of midfielder Jack Moylan has been a smart move. He has scored six goals this season, four of which have come in his last three games.
Moylan has registered a whopping 47 shots already, and after seven of his efforts hit the target in his last two games, he looks the most likely goalscorer for the visitors.
Team-mate Joel Colwill has been booked three times already this season, but that may change on Saturday. He has registered 18 fouls this season, conceding at least two per game in five consecutive appearances.
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Key Match Stats
Middlesbrough are unbeaten in five games in the Championship
The hosts have not lost at home this season in six outings in all competitions
Boro are unbeaten in their last five games against Cardiff
Cardiff have won only two of their last 11 matches, but those two wins have come in their last three outings
Middlesbrough have the second-best home record in the Championship
Cardiff have only picked up one point away from home in the second tier
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
