Middlesbrough's Predicted Starting Lineup for the Cardiff City Clash: Will They Bounce Back From Humiliating Loss?

Cardiff City play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking to earn their first win of the new Championship campaign. At a time when the Bluebirds sit in bottom place of the standings, Middlesbrough are in 11th position despite only having one victory under their belt.

When Middlesbrough began the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Swansea City in the league and a 3-0 triumph at Leeds United in the EFL Cup, everything appeared on track for Michael Carrick.

Since then, though, Boro have suffered a late 1-0 defeat to Derby County and a 5-0 humbling at home to Stoke City in the EFL Cup second round on Tuesday night. Sandwiched in between was a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Portsmouth at the Riverside Stadium, all three games highlighting that there is much work ahead for the North-East outfit. Carrick will be conscious that a slow start to last season ultimately cost the club a chance of making the playoffs, and defeat here would see them drop into the bottom half of the table heading into the international break.

On a positive note, Boro still have the memory of thrashing Cardiff in last season's corresponding fixture, prevailing 4-1 on April 27. Meanwhile, Cardiff will be frustrated with their own start to 2024-25, propping up the table having only earned their one and only point last weekend.

That came in the Welsh derby at Swansea City, Callum Robinson scoring 11 minutes from time to earn the Bluebirds a share of the spoils. Erol Bulut will also have been left impressed with the resolve shown against Southampton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, his side getting back on level terms on as many as three occasions before their Premier League opponents scored twice in the closing stages for a 5-3 victory.

That said, aside from a clean sheet being kept against Bristol Rovers, Cardiff have now conceded 15 times in the other four fixtures in all competitions.

Having made 11 changes for the EFL Cup, Cardiff boss Bulut is likely to revert to a similar side to the one that started at Swansea. Alex Robertson's place had been under threat from Rubin Colwill, but his goal in the defeat to Southampton may see him retain his spot. Will Fish may be in contention to be named in the squad for the first time since his arrival from Manchester United.

The Middlesbrough starting lineup will also be similar to their last league outing with none of the much-changed side for the Stoke debacle doing themselves any favours. Carrick revealed that the half-time substitution of Luke Ayling was pre-planned and that the defender did not sustain an injury issue. Daniel Barlaser is realistically the only player from Tuesday night who could earn himself an opportunity in the first XI.

Middlesbrough's Predicted Lineup: Key Decisions for Carrick

Middlesbrough will be hoping to put Tuesday night's horror show against Stoke City firmly behind them when they travel to Cardiff City on Saturday - with Michael Carrick facing a few selection dilemmas.

With attentions now fully on the league, Boro will be hoping to get back to winning ways to go into the first international break in a positive mood. They'll be without Riley McGree for the game, though Carrick was set to make late calls on Friday on Rav van den Berg and Jonny Howson.

Carrick will also have a decision to make on Neto Borges, with the Brazilian only arriving on Tuesday and having just two training sessions at his new club. How will Boro's starting line-up look at Cardiff? Here's our predicted team.

Goalkeeper - Seny Dieng

After his error against Portsmouth, Dieng will be looking to quickly bounce back this week at Cardiff. A strong character, he won't let last week affect him and he'll be straight back in the Boro side after being rested for the cup in midweek.

Right-Back - Anfernee Dijksteel

Though Carrick said Van den Berg was touch and go for Cardiff, our prediction is that he won't be ready, at least to start this one. While the Dutchman could make the bench, it doesn't feel likely he will be risked from the start and therefore Dijksteel will continue at right-back.

Centre-Back - Luke Ayling

For the same reason, that will mean Ayling will have to play at centre-back again. It felt telling on Tuesday evening that Carrick had planned to give Ayling and Dijksteel 45 minutes each in the game - a move that suggests he wasn't expecting van den Berg to be ready.

Centre-Back - Matt Clarke

Partly culpable for that Portsmouth goal last weekend and then involved in Boro's heavy defeat to Stoke in midweek - albeit hardly to blame - Clarke will no doubt be determined to put things right in South Wales this weekend. Aforementioned points aside, he's had a great start to the new season.

Left-Back - Neto Borges

A big dilemma for Carrick will be whether or not to throw Borges straight in after arriving this week. We're predicting he will because, after a nightmare on Tuesday, Lukas Engel's confidence will be in tatters. It's a risky move though. Boro did similar with Alex Bangura after his arrival last year and he injured his hamstring after 60 minutes and hasn't really got going since.

Central Midfield - Aidan Morris

Carrick's other dilemma surrounds Howson's fitness and whether to risk him. With Morris so impressive since joining this summer, however, there is little need to risk the skipper here. Howson could go into the defence, but again Dijksteel and Ayling have done the job well enough to not warrant the risk.

Central Midfield - Hayden Hackney

If Hackney plays at Cardiff it will mean, as is currently expected, Boro have got through the summer transfer window with the Redcar star still a Boro player. That will be a huge bonus to their promotion hopes and he'll be hoping to build on a positive start to drive Boro towards exactly that.

Right Wing - Isaiah Jones

Jones has looked a little off the boil in the last couple of games and needs to improve his end product. That said, he's already won two penalties for Boro, highlighting how effective he can still be. With new signings still bedding in, and Marcus Forss injured, Jones is likely to stay in the side.

Attacking Midfielder - Finn Azaz

There's a chance Carrick might go with Tommy Conway for this one - and whether you think he will or not likely rests on what you believe his reasons for not starting him on Tuesday were. It might be that the striker didn't start because Carrick earmarked Cardiff for him to make his first start. Alternatively, and the option we're predicting, is that the 22-year-old's lack of a pre-season leaves Carrick needing to be patient to not risk an injury. With that in mind, and after a solid game against Portsmouth, we're giving Azaz the nod again. He was also rested against Stoke.

Left Wing - Delano Burgzorg

With Micah Hamilton struggling as he settles in at Boro and Riley McGree confirmed out, Burgzorg will get another opportunity to impress. A player who can blow hot and cold, he undoubtedly always makes life uncomfortable for defenders but at times just needs better decision-making.

Striker - Emmanuel Latte Lath

Similar to Hackney, if not more so given deadline day speculation, Latte Lath starting in this one, as expected currently, will mean they have held onto their star asset in this summer window. There's been plenty of interest - including from Ipswich at the last minute, but Boro are determined to keep him.

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Carrick faces a defensive dilemma ahead of Saturday's Cardiff game. If van den Berg again misses out, the Boro boss could opt to again start Luke Ayling at centre-half alongside Matt Clarke, with Anfernee Dijksteel at right-back. But Carrick says Howson is itching to return and if the captain is deemed fit to play, he's an option at centre-back.

Further forward, with McGree again out missing, Carrick must decide whether to stick with Delano Burgzorg on the left and Finn Azaz at No.10 or bring Tommy Conway in for his first start. The fact the summer signing wasn't included in the starting XI against Stoke in the Carabao Cup in midweek was a strong indication he could be in from the off at Cardiff.

Updating on the injury situation, Carrick said: “Riley has been a little bit slower than we'd hoped so he won't be ready for this week.

“Jonny is pushing me like crazy but we'll have to make a decision there. Rav we'll have to see tomorrow, that's a bit touch and go.

“Darragh and Dael are a bit further and Marcus and Tommy are a bit further as we know.”

Carrick added: “On Dael and Darragh, they've both been out for a long period of time. They came back and trained around the group in pre-season but both picked up small injuries we have to manage and be patient with.

“Dael has had a bit of a calf problem he's coming back from and Darragh has had tendinitis in and around his achilles.

“Thankfully it's not the issues they were out with before but it has stopped them from coming back as quickly as they would have liked and we would have liked. After the international break we'll try to get them back in and around it as soon as we can.”