Team news

Haroun gives Mowbray options Faris Haroun could boost boss Tony Mowbray's selection options as Middlesbrough prepare to host fellow play-off hopefuls Cardiff.

Haroun has been sidelined in recent weeks with a hamstring injury, but the midfielder could be ready to return to Boro's matchday squad.

Top scorer Marvin Emnes is expected to play through the pain once more as the club's medical staff continue to manage his knee condition.

Rhys Williams is still out with the ankle ligament injury he suffered against Leeds last month, while captain and fellow defender Matthew Bates is out for the season after undergoing knee ligament surgery on Monday.

Goalkeeper Danny Coyne has returned to light training as he steps up his rehabilitation from a calf strain.

Boro head into the game seventh in the npower Championship, outside the top six on goal difference and two points ahead of Cardiff.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has no new injury or suspension worries.

Mackay, whose side have drawn each of their last four matches, is unlikely to change his starting line-up at the Riverside, although he will have to decide whether to drop misfiring striker Kenny Miller.

The Scot has not netted for the Bluebirds in any of his last 14 outings, and faces stiff competition from Joe Mason, Rudy Gestede and Robert Earnshaw for a place in Mackay's XI as Cardiff look to get their play-off push back on track.

Midfielder Stephen McPhail has featured in Cardiff's last four games following his return from illness and is set to start once more this weekend.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff

Last modified 17:17 07/04/12

Bluebirds bounce above Boro Ben Turner and Joe Mason both struck within the space of eight first-half minutes as Cardiff leapfrogged npower Championship play-off rivals Middlesbrough back into the top six with a 2-0 win at the Riverside.

Cardiff defender Turner headed home Liam Lawrence's corner in the 11th minute and early substitute Mason converted another Lawrence assist from close range eight minutes later as Malky Mackay's side rekindled their promotion hopes with their first win in six matches.

Boro winger Adam Hammill struck the post with a vicious shot early in the second half and substitute Marvin Emnes forced Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall into a fine save with 15 minutes left, but otherwise Tony Mowbray's side were restricted to long-range efforts as they chased the game after the break.

Both sides had seen their play-off chances falter in recent weeks after drawing their previous four matches and, while the Bluebirds' second win in 11 games lifted them a point above seventh-placed Brighton, Boro have now failed to win any of their last seven and drop down a place to eighth.

Cardiff quickly overcame an early injury to striker Kenny Miller, forced out of the action in the sixth minute, to take the lead five minutes later.

Bluebirds midfielder Lawrence swung over a corner and defender Turner rose above the home defence to plant a firm header into the bottom corner.

Boro striker Lukas Jutkiewicz spurned a golden chance to equalise when he headed Joe Bennett's cross wide in the 17th minute, but within 60 seconds Cardiff had doubled their lead.

Lawrence was again the provider, playing the ball across the six-yard box from the right and Mason, Miller's replacement, was left unmarked to sidefoot the ball into the bottom corner for his 10th goal of the season.

Boro responded immediately, with midfielder Barry Robson's angled 25-yard shot brilliantly turned away at full stretch by Marshall.

Boro defender Seb Hines headed Hammill's corner straight at Marshall and Jutkiewicz dragged a 20-yard shot wide, but Cardiff were only denied a third goal just before the break when Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele kept out Mason's shot from inside the area with his feet.

The home side raised the tempo after the restart and were denied by the woodwork when Hammill's angled drive hit the post in the 48th minute.

Marshall then held a shot from Boro midfielder Nicky Bailey and striker Scott McDonald rifled a shot over the crossbar.

But Boro were restricted to long-range efforts. Robson's free-kick was easily held by Marshall, McDonald skewed another effort from the edge of the area off target and Hammill fired straight at the Bluebirds' goalkeeper from 20 yards.