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After a brief hiatus, league football returns to the calendar for game #9, with the arduous trip to Teeside and a tough game against an improving Middlesbrough team, managed by the much vaunted Chris Wilder.
Boro currently occupy 17th spot in the table and are just a solitary point better off than Steve Morison's misfiring Bluebirds after a somewhat shaky start to the season, but with 2 wins and a draw from their last 5 games, the Teesiders will be in a very confident mood.
Goal scoring hasn't been issue for Wilder's team, with 11 goals registered in their 8 games, however, the 12 conceded may point to a slightly weak defence. With a shutout in the 1-0 triumph in the Tees-Wear derby game last time out though, they may be getting their act together.
Boro have signed several new players over the summer, with the slightly eye catching captures of Alex Mowett and Massimo Luongo and Rodrigo Muniz being offset by the losses of Marcus Tavernier and Djed Spence to Premier League sides Bournemouth and Spurs respectively for combined fees believed to be in the region of £30 million.
Last season saw Boro run out 2-0 winners in this fixture but over the teams history, they have been vanquished by the Bluebirds more often than being victors, with just the 23 wins against Wales's best compared to the Bluebirds 33 wins. The spoils have shared on just 13 occasions.
The Riverside of course is home to an exceptionally happy memory for many a Bluebird, with our FA Cup Quarter Final victory against the then Premier League Middlesbrough by 2 goals to Nil being played out in March 2008.
Both goals were fantastic, with a well taken diving header by Roger Johnson being trumped by a magical Peter Whittingham goal, with the midfield legend curling into the net after some nifty footwork, despite being surrounded by what seemed like the entire Boro defence. Heady days from a heavenly player that was taken from us all far too soon
.On a lighter note, Boro's old Ayresome Park featured in the 35th edition of the Guinness Book of Records. Oddly however, it wasn't for an attendance or something you'd expect, it was for having the having the largest reported advertising hoarding, with an advert for heritage Hampers painted on the roof of the North Stand (I wonder if our Captain Morgan rum advert on the Bob Bank would have bettered it??).
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Big Roger Johnson scores the second goal for the Bluebirds by dazzling the Boro defence with the lesser known unassisted wheelbarrow yoga pose.
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Despite being barely able to see daylight, let alone the goal through the entire Boro backline, the laid back genius that was Peter Whittingham still managed to steer the ball home to put the jubilant Bluebirds on the road to Wembley Way and a showdown in the semi-final v the Yorkshire Tykes.
Early Team News
It appears the Bluebirds are moving towards a clean bill of health in general (JC accepted), with Callum O'Dowda, Ebou Adams and Isaak Davies all returning to training according to gaffer Steve Morison, with both O'Dowda and Rubin Colwill declared fit enough for the Tuesday night game.
Kion Etete is also "back on grass" but this game is likely to be a little too soon for the young striker, but Callum Robinson has now had some unexpected additional time on the training ground with his new teammates, and so it is likely a fair bet that he will depose Max Watters from the starting 11, especially with Morison praising the not only his abilities but also the impact the new signing has had around the club.
Prutton Predicts
The Sky pundit has once again predicted a defeat for the Bluebirds on the road, with a 2-0 reverse being his chosen scoreline, his seemingly early season confidence in the Bluebirds having dissipated quite rapidly in recent weeks. Let's hope the City can prove the harbinger of doom wrong this week!
Alas the bookies at Sky also have Boro as odds on to win the game, with the following odds being quoted;
Home 4/6 Draw 11/4 Away 17/4
Sharing the Love
There have been a few prominent Bluebirds who have also played for Tuesday night's hosts, but two of my favourites have to be the masterful Graham Kavanah and the ever exuberant Fabio, though in terns of numbers of appearances, it is 2 fullbacks in the shape of Andrew Taylor and Joe Bennett that catch the eye.
Player Cardiff Apps Boro Apps
Graham Kavanah 142 35
Fabio 65 48
Andrew Taylor 103 125
Joe Bennett 164 85
Pat Heard 46 25
Willo Flood 25 16
Rudy Gestede 55 59
Sol Bamba 112 24
Sammy Ameobi 36 9
Andy Campbell 73 56
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Cardiff's Captain Marvel realises the helicopter to Wigan is for him and not Andy Campbell
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Fabio loses his cool after realsing that the Hull players had stolen his halftime bag of Haribo whilst he was doing his pre-match warm up.
Can the Bluebirds smite down the Smoggies? Can we make Wilder go wild with rage on the touchline?? Can Morison's Bluebirds triumph on Teeside???
We will know by around 10pm tomorrow!!
Bloooooooooooobirds.
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