Cardiff City host Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough in The Bluebirds' last home game of the 23/24 season.
The Opposition:
Middlesbrough had a poor start to the season, which saw Michael Carrick come under pressure. Boro turned the corner in October and won six games on the trot, relieving Carrick of pressure and seeing them rise up the table. Boro since have had an inconsistent season, except for an impressive Carabao Cup which saw them reach the semi-finals before losing to Chelsea. After a midweek defeat, Middlesbrough can no longer finish in the play-offs, and similarly to The Bluebirds have nothing to play for in their remaining two fixtures.
Carrick has typically set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but it fast evolves into a much more fluid system that is difficult for the opposition to defend against. Boro generate plenty of width under Carrick by shifting their formation when in possession to push one full-back high while the other drops in to create a back three.
Boro sit ninth ahead of this one and could move up to seventh with a win.
The Bluebirds:
Cardiff come into this one on the back of a dramatic win against Southampton. Goals from Famara Diedhiou and Cian Ashford was enough to see The Bluebirds seal all three points in a game of two halves.
I could see The Bluebirds setting out to absorb Middlesbrough's pressure then hitting them on the counterattack. Boro will likely have a lot of possession but Cardiff are seemingly stronger in these type of games.
The Bluebirds are eleventh ahead of this one and could move up to eighth with a win.
Team News:
Cardiff City - Josh Bowler and Callum Robinson are back in contention for The Bluebirds. Yakou Meite, Perry Ng, Aaron Ramsey, Mark McGuinness, Jak Alnwick, Kion Etete, Callum O'Dowda and Josh Wilson-Esbrand out.
Middlesbrough - Josh Coburn and Dael Fry doubts. Tom Glover, Marcus Forss, Riley McGree, Tommy Smith, Darragh Lenihan all out.
Preferred XI:
GK - Ethan Horvath
RB - Raheem Conte
RCB - Nat Phillips
LCB - Dimitrios Goutas
LB - Ollie Tanner
RDM - Manolis Siopis
LDM - Joe Ralls
CAM - David Turnbull
RW - Cian Ashford
LW - Rubin Colwill
ST - Famara Diedhiou
Prediction:
Cardiff City 1-1 Middlesbrough
Two sides with nothing to play for, I could see both playing out a draw at the CCS.
I think joel colwill can start in the CAM position. He has more than 10 goals in the lower age categories this season and I think Erol will give him a chance. If the Boro defence cannot be overcome, joel collwill can come into the game as a locksmith.