Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction
Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face Cardiff City in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Last year Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the top flight and all are hopeful of making a quick return - but the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland all have real promotion ambitions too.
At the other end of the table, QPR, Cardiff City and Birmingham City will hope for better campaigns than last year’s relegation struggle - while newcomers Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to survive after dramatic progress through the play-offs.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Middlesbrough FC 2 - 0 Cardiff City FC
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:39
Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Cardiff City 0.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:38
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Cardiff City 0.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:38
Foul by Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:38
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Mark McGuinness.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:38
Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:36
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:36
Attempt missed. Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) header from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Daniel Barlaser with a cross following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:35
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:35
Attempt blocked. Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:34
Tommy Smith (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:34
Foul by Joe Ralls (Cardiff City).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:34
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Bangura replaces Lukas Engel.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:32
Attempt saved. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joe Ralls.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:31
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jak Alnwick.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:31
Attempt saved. Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Crooks with a through ball.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:31
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Matt Crooks replaces Riley McGree.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:31
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Morgan Rogers replaces Sam Greenwood.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:27
Goal! Middlesbrough 2, Cardiff City 0. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marcus Forss following a fast break.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:25
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Paddy McNair.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:31
Attempt blocked. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:23
Dimitrios Goutas (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:22
Foul by Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:22
Foul by Riley McGree (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:20
Hand ball by Riley McGree (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:19
Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:17
Foul by Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:16
Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:16
Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:16
Emmanouil Siopis (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:14
Substitution, Cardiff City. Mahlon Romeo replaces Ebou Adams.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:14
Substitution, Cardiff City. Rubin Colwill replaces Kion Etete because of an injury.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:14
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:14
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Isaiah Jones.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:14
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath replaces Josh Coburn.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:11
Delay in match because of an injury Kion Etete (Cardiff City).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:11
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ebou Adams.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:10
Substitution, Cardiff City. Callum Robinson replaces Ryan Wintle.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:08
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:08
Foul by Josh Coburn (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:07
Attempt missed. Kion Etete (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ryan Wintle with a cross following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:05
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Dael Fry.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:05
Offside, Middlesbrough. Lukas Engel tries a through ball, but Riley McGree is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:05
Substitution, Cardiff City. Iké Ugbo replaces Ollie Tanner.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
21:00
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Mark McGuinness.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:59
Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Cardiff City 0. Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lukas Engel with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:58
Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Daniel Barlaser.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:56
Foul by Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:56
Ollie Tanner (Cardiff City) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the right side of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:54
Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:53
Foul by Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:50
Attempt missed. Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:48
Second Half begins Middlesbrough 0, Cardiff City 0.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:32
First Half ends, Middlesbrough 0, Cardiff City 0.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:32
Attempt blocked. Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:30
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ebou Adams.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:26
Offside, Cardiff City. Dimitrios Goutas tries a through ball, but Karlan Grant is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:24
Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:24
Attempt saved. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Greenwood.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:23
Perry Ng (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:23
Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:23
Attempt saved. Karlan Grant (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Wintle.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:19
Karlan Grant (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:18
Foul by Karlan Grant (Cardiff City).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:19
Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:12
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jak Alnwick.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:14
Attempt saved. Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Tommy Smith.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:09
Joe Ralls (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:08
Offside, Cardiff City. Perry Ng tries a through ball, but Kion Etete is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
20:02
Attempt saved. Ryan Wintle (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is saved.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
19:54
Foul by Ollie Tanner (Cardiff City).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
19:52
Foul by Joe Ralls (Cardiff City).
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
19:46
First Half begins.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
19:15
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City
18:45
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