Cardiff City 1 Middlesbrough 0
A POOR first half performance and a poor second half decision from a linesman left Boro clinging to their play-off hopes by a thread, writes GORDON COX from the Cardiff City Stadium.
Boro made two changes to the side that beat QPR as Andrew Taylor replaced the injured Emanuel Pogatetz and Julio Arca stepped in for Chris Killen, which meant Jeremie Aliadiere was moved up front to partner Leroy Lita. The change at the back meant the 23rd different back four combination of the season.
David Marshall returned in goal for Cardiff after their defeat at Preston North End, while Darcy Blake and Adam Matthews started in place of Paul Quinn and Peter Whittingham.
Both sides wore black armbands as a mark of respect to ex-Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander, who sadly died not long after his side's game at Notts County during the week. The players lined up around the centre circle to lead a minute's applause before the game got underway.
When Flood conceded a free-kick just up from the right-hand edge of the penalty area there were dangers signs for Boro. That was cleared but City won a corner and with just over two minutes played City took the lead
Ross McCormack worked a short corner with Michael Chopra, Boro didn't pick up Darcy Blake's cross and defended sloppily as Gabor Gyepes toe-poked for goal and Jay Bothroyd tucked in at the back post to register his 10th goal of the season.
It was a poor start from Boro and they didn't pick up quickly enough afterwards. Stephen McManus was the first player into referee Deadman's notebook for a mistimed challenge on Bothroyd.
The first time Marshall touched the ball came 20 minutes into the game, but only to catch, uncontested, a Gary O'Neil free-kick.
City broke and for a moment they looked like creating a chance to double their lead, but Taylor moved quickly across to cover and dispossess Bothroyd on the edge of the Boro box.
Naughton had his work cut out under pressure from McCormack when City pressed down their left. After nearly getting caught in possession first time he then scuffed a clearance but cleared the danger.
Back came the home side, looking more likely to score again than Boro looked likely to equalise. Chopra went for a lobbed effort from the edge of the area but Danny Coyne was under no pressure.
A mix-up between Anthony Gerrard and Adam Matthews set up Aliadiere with a half-chance as he pounced on a loose ball just up from the right-hand edge of the Cardiff box, but the Frenchman blasted well over.
Bothroyd won a header on the edge of the Boro box and directed possession to Chopra, who in turn set up Chris Burke, but a wild shot from the D was clearing the bar from the moment it left his left boot.
It was a wasted chance, but another indication of how fired up the hosts were.
Two more half-chances came quickly as Taylor headed away for a corner when Blake threatened, then Bothroyd failed to make telling contact to a decent, low cross from the right.
In between Boro produced their best move of the game as they worked their way down their left, but when Willo Flood shot for goal from 25 yards his effort was sliced out of play for a throw-in.
Five minutes from the break Gordon Strachan was forced into a change, replacing the injured Aliadiere with Killen.
In the final minute of normal time in the first half Boro were given a let off as Burke weaved his way into the penalty area and appeared to be brought down close to the touchline. But as the assistant referee appeared to flag for a penalty, referee Deadman took a different view and booked the Cardiff player for diving.
Boro broke, but O'Neil blasted high and wide from 23 yards.
Half-time: Cardiff City 1 Middlesbrough 0
Two minutes into the second half Boro were under pressure again as Burke marauded down the City right and sent over a good cross. Chopra challenged on the edge of the six-yard box but the ball rolled off him and out for a goal kick.
Boro needed to create and they did a minute later as Lita stretched to meet a left-wing cross and headed not far over after getting a run on Gerrard - but five yards out he might have done better.
Five minutes into the second half Strachan was forced into a second change as Flood, hurt in a 50-50 with Kevin McNaughton, limped off to be replaced by Rhys Williams, who was making his first appearance since the FA Cup game against Manchester City at the start of January.
City kept up their momentum, Burke again causing problems until the ball ran from his possession under pressure and Coyne gathered.
But Boro were better in this half, once again playing differently from one half to another, and they were desperately unlucky not to equalise on 58 minutes.
Robson whipped over a fine free-kick from the right and David Wheater headed what he thought was the leveller, only for his celebrations to be cut short by a linesman's flag, with the official suggesting a hand had been used.
The ensuing strong protests saw Robson and Lita booked and Strachan warned after an altercation with the fourth official.
The "goal" gave Boro heart and a few minutes later Lita, brought a save from the feet of Marshall with a low shot on the turn.
Robson was on the end of another decent move, but he was right of centre in the penalty area and was ushered away from danger.
Just a minute afterwards Chopra sent a close range header wide from the edge of the six-yard box, Marshall saved unconventionally with his feet at the near post to block a low, angled drive from Robson.
Now Boro were playing their best football, but it looked to be too little too late as Marshall tipped over from a Killen header, then again six minutes from time from a 22-yard O'Neil free-kick.
*After the game the referee confirmed that David Wheater's headed equaliser had been ruled out because a linesman saw Leroy Lita handle the ball. TV replays suggested that although Lita's hand was up, he did not touch the ball. Video evidence also indicated that Bothroyd's goal was not offside.
Cardiff City: Marshall; Blake, Gerrard, Gyepes, McNaughton, Burke, Matthews, Rae, Chopra, McCormack (Capaldi 90+3), Bothroyd (Capt). Unused subs: Enckelman (gk); Quinn, Feeney, Taiwo, Wildig, Meades.
Middlesbrough: Coyne, Naughton, Wheater, McManus, Taylor, Flood (R Williams 50), O'Neil (Capt), Robson, Arca, Aliadiere (Killen 40), Lita. Unused subs: Jones (gk); Grounds, Bennett, Franks, Miller.
Referee: Darren Deadman, Cambridgeshire.
Bookings
Cardiff City: Burke 44, diving; McCormack 90+1, pushing.
Boro: McManus 12, foul on Bothroyd; Lita 58, handball; Robson 58, dissent.
Attendance: 19,803 (655 Boro)
Conditions: Overcast with a cool breeze.
Website Man of the Match: Gary O'Neil
