Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Cardiff City

Middlesbrough know that victory over Cardiff City on Tuesday night will guarantee them a spot in the automatic-promotion places for 24 hours at least.

With the FA Cup fourth round making for a staggered matchday 27 in the Championship, Boro will climb up to second with a win before current second-placed team Ipswich Town play on Wednesday.

Aitor Karanka's side are in a rich vein of form at the moment, with just one defeat in three months and no goals conceded since last month's loss at Ipswich.

On Saturday they earned their 13th clean sheet of the season with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town, making it 10 games unbeaten at the Riverside since the end of August.

Karanka has no new injury concerns and could well go with the same XI that tamed the Terriers, but Adam Reach and Jelle Vossen will be hoping for recalls to the starting lineup.

While Boro have their eyes on the top two, Cardiff have slipped into the bottom half following a run of of one league win in seven games.

At the weekend they were 3-0 down in the first half at Norwich City, but fought back with two quick goals midway through the second half. They couldn't quite pull off an unlikely fightback which would have avenged Norwich's comeback win in the Welsh capital in September.

David Marshall had to sit out at Carrow Road, but could be back between the sticks tomorrow, while Alex Revell should continue up front after scoring on his first start for the club.

The Bluebirds have failed to win 12 of their last 13 away league games and have also suffered defeat in their last two matches against Boro.

There hasn't been a draw in the league between these two sides since 1971, with Boro winning the reverse 1-0 thanks to Kike's early strike.

Boro:

Form in Championship: WLWDDW Form in all competitions: LWDWDW

Possible starting lineup: Konstantopoulos; Kalas, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Adomah, Clayton, Leadbitter, Bamford; Tomlin; Kike

Cardiff:

Form in Championship: LLDLWL Form in all competitions: LDLWWL

Possible starting lineup: Moore; Brayford, Morrison, Turner, Malone; Whittingham, Adeyemi, Gunnarsson, Noone, Le Fondre, Revell

Sports Mole says: 1-0