Match Review: Cardiff City 1 Boro 4

Ruthless Boro carved apart Cardiff City to end the away campaign with an impressive victory.

After nudging ahead through Matt Clarke at the end of a fairly even first half, Boro produced a clinical second-half display to cruise past the Bluebirds.

Michael Carrick made a trio of changes from the side that had narrowly lost out to Leeds United on Monday evening. Alex Gilbert was rewarded for a bright cameo at the Riverside with his first start in a Boro shirt, while Luke Ayling and Dan Barlaser returned to the XI.

Anfernee Dijksteel, Lewis O'Brien and Sammy Silvera dropped to a bench which also included youngsters Shea Connor, Charlie Lennon, Law McCabe and Ajay Matthews.

A lively first ten minutes could have easily have reaped reward for either side. Cardiff were first to go close when, after Boro had squandered possession, David Turnbull tried to lob Seny Dieng, the keeper at full stretch to tip over. Minutes later, Dimitrios Goutas sent a close-range header bouncing over the Senegalese's goal.

At the other end, Cardiff custodian Ethan Horvath had to make himself big to deny Emmanuel Latte Lath after Finn Azaz's shot had deflected invitingly into the striker's path. Later in the half, Horvath was relieved to see his clearance bounce wide of his goal after Boro's number nine had rapidly closed him down. 

The play fell into a steadier rhythm for the remained of the first period, with Cardiff's goal the busier. Isaiah Jones curled one effort wide after a smart Latte Lath touch, before Luke Thomas tested Horvath with a drilled effort across goal having been found by Barlaser.

Just before the break, though, Boro snatched the lead. A free-kick delivered from Finn Azaz into a dangerous area was met by Matt Clarke, who showed great desire to convert his first Boro goal via a touch off the crossbar. 

If the first half had been a tame affair at times, the second exploded into life. 

Boro had Dieng to thank for preserving their lead within minutes of the restart, pushing Goutas' header onto the post before Cian Ashford sent the follow-up over. 

After that, though, it was all Boro. The advantage was doubled for Carrick's men when - after Gilbert had bustled his way through a couple of challenges - Azaz reacted quickest to lift the loose ball over Horvath and in.

The effervescent Azaz returned to his role as provider for Boro's next, lofting a ball over the top of Cardiff's defence for Latte Lath, who sped away and lashed gleefully in for a third. 

And within minutes of that, it was four for the Boro as Ayling sent a low ball across the edge of the box to Gilbert, in plenty of space to pick his spot expertly for his own first Boro goal.

The healthy lead offered Carrick opportunity to shuffle his pack and offer minutes to those on his bench, McCabe, Matthews and debutant Lennon among those taking to the pitch in the final half-hour as Boro saw out the win.

A late consolation for the hosts, Josh Bowler converting after a slip-up at the back for Boro, couldn't take the shine off as our travelling army were sent home happy.