Cardiff City are desperate for some winning form heading into their match with Middlesbrough in South Wales, as the Bluebirds come into this game winless in 2023 and without having picked up a victory since before the World Cup break three months ago.
This run makes it the lengthiest winless streak across the Football League with Cardiff's last victory coming against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light just one week before the break for the World Cup.
In 2023, the club come into this one on a four-game losing run, having lost 5-2 to Leeds United in the FA Cup third round replay, while losing to Millwall, Luton Town and Hull City all 1-0. The only points picked up since Christmas have come in 0-0 draws with Queens Park Rangers and Coventry City, while drawing 1-1 with Wigan Athletic.
Middlesbrough, however, have been in stunning form ever since Michael Carrick took the helm many months back and their form resembles exactly the same as what we witnessed from Nottingham Forest by rising up from the bottom three and into the playoff spots.
Boro defeated Blackpool last time out to put them into third in the league table, and although they are unlikely to catch Sheffield United or Burnley, it would be nothing short of disastrous right now if Carrick were not to finish in a playoffs spot in the Championship. The club are, however, only ahead of Luton Town in fourth by goals difference and have played one game more. It makes the next few outings vital for Boro to see where they could be standing in the table.
