Cardiff vs Middlesbrough – City to keep Premier hopes alive
Published:Cardiff are 4/9 to beat Middlesbrough and keep the pressure on Norwich in the battle for the Championship’s second automatic promotion spot.
Match odds
With five wins from their last six matches, and no defeats since March, Cardiff appear to be hitting their straps at just the right time of the season.
Their tussle with Norwich for that cherished second place looks like it will extend to the final game of the season, and a win against Middlesbrough is imperative.
Cardiff’s convincing odds of 4/9 to win illustrate how strongly they are favoured to beat their mid-table opponents and, having scored nine goals in their last three home matches, the Bluebirds will take some stopping.
Victory will not be a formality for Dave Jones’ side, as Middlesbrough are enjoying something of a resurgence under Tony Mowbray.
Boro are 11/2 to snatch all three points from the Cardiff City Stadium and, in doing so, complete a league double over the Bluebirds following their 1-0 triumph in the reverse fixture in December.
The visitors have suffered just one defeat in their last 10 games, a run which has banished all thoughts of a relegation battle, and they are 10/3 to claim a fifth draw in 10.
First goalscorer
After a lean start to 2011, Cardiff’s top-scorer Jay Bothroyd appears to have rediscovered his golden touch with two goals from his last three matches.
The England international opened the scoring in his last outing at the Cardiff City Stadium with a firecracker against QPR, and he is 4/1 to break the deadlock against Boro.
Craig Bellamy, meanwhile, has been inspirational of late and the captain is 9/2 to score first here and add to his 10 league goals this season.
With Scott McDonald out, Boro’s main goal threat could be Marvin Emnes, who scored Swansea’s winner in a 1-0 derby victory at this ground in November. The striker is 10/1 to open the scoring.
A £30 stake on Jay Bothroyd to score first would return £120. New customers can sign up here for a free £30 bet.
