Middlesbrough stay in the hunt for play-off places

Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough kept their hopes of securing a play-off spot alive with a 2-0 victory at home to Cardiff City.

Before the game, Wilder had asked for his strikers to step up but it was a midfielder who opened the scoring. Marcus Tavernier’s fine strike in the 28th minute gave the hosts the lead. 

The Bluebirds played well but were unable to find a way through and the home team doubled their lead just eight minutes into the second period.

Jonny Howson intercepted the ball in midfield and fed in Riley McGree. The Australian drove at the goal and got lucky with a deflection that put the ball past goalkeeper Dillion Phillips. 

The result puts Middlesbrough just two points off the play-off spots with two games left to play and ends a five-game winless streak. Cardiff meanwhile lose their fourth game in a row and Steve Morison will no doubt be looking forward to rebuilding next season.

An important win in @Boro's pursuit of a place in the #SkyBetChampionship Play-Offs!#EFL | @CazooUK pic.twitter.com/PcB2ztrwrb

— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 27, 2022