Middlesbrough 0 Cardiff 1:Chris Burke scored the only goal of the game as Cardiff moved up to third in the Coca-Cola Championship with a hard-fought victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Burke broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark with a curling free-kick from the left flank that evaded everyone on its way into the net.
David Wheater headed against the crossbar for Boro moments later and Leroy Lita saw an effort cleared off the line by Adam Matthews, but the hosts could not find a way through.
It leaves boss Gordon Strachan still looking for his first win on home soil.
Middlesbrough’s misery was compounded when highly-rated winger Adam Johnson limped off with a hamstring injury.
Cardiff, meanwhile, saw three players leave the field through injury, including the league’s top scorer Peter Whittingham, who picked up a groin strain in the first half.
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