Former Rangers winger Chris Burke has scored five goals this season
Chris Burke continued his free-scoring form to fire Cardiff City to third in the Championship and deepen the woes of new Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan.
Burke's 60th minute inswinging left-wing free-kick deceived keeper Brad Jones and his defence to sail in for his third goal in successive games.
David Wheater hit the bar while Leroy Lita had an effort hacked off the line as Boro have now just won one in six.
Cardiff defended expertly to secure their third consecutive triumph.
Boos rang out at the final whistle after a record low Riverside crowd of 17,232 voiced their displeasure and frustration as Strachan's side stuttered to another home defeat as the new Scottish manager is yet to celebrate a win at his own ground.
Strachan will already start to feel the pressure as previous boss Gareth Southgate was sacked despite keeping up with the early season pacesetters.
Middlesbrough's fans expect their club to bounce back into the Premier League at the first attempt but Boro are languishing in 11th place after a disappointing start to Strachan's reign.
Cardiff, though, have seemingly put a winless November to the back of their minds with three successive victories and three successive clean sheets to move two points behind second-placed West Bromwich Albion.
Boro boast one of the strongest squads in the division so this was a superb win for Cardiff who celebrated their third win in a row at Middlesbrough.
But the Bluebirds did suffer a blow as the Championship's top-scorer Peter Whittingham limped off the field in the first-half with a groin strain.
Middlesbrough, too, endured an injury blow when star winger Adam Johnson limped off with a hamstring problem to further compound their misery.
But Boro had started the brighter as Dave Kitson fired wide after Rhys Williams' long-ranger was well well saved by David Marshall.
The Cardiff keeper had to be at his best again to tip Mark Yeates' 25-yard free-kick around the post.
Boro responded immediately from Burke's fifth of the season on the hour as a goalmouth scramble saw Wheater head against the bar before Matthews scrambled away Lita's rebound.
And the hosts wasted a fine opportunity to draw level in the 73rd minute when Lita prodded a shot inches wide with the outside of his right boot.
Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan said:
"I don't think in the overall play we deserved to get beat.
"I thought my two central midfielders were excellent, Mark Yeates got voted man of the match and Adam Johnson was always a threat while we were lively up front.
"I think they can walk out of here with their heads held high, I don't think we could do that on Tuesday night against Blackpool.
"If you can do that then it's not so bad. Slink out of the ground when you can't look at anybody in the eye, then you have a problem.
"I thought they gave it a right good shot. I thought the confidence was fine.
"The goal... you expect to defend that kind of situation. It was a good delivery but there were still enough people to deal with it."
Cardiff City manager Dave Jones said:
"It was another excellent away win for us and every worked hard.
"We got away with a few things because we defended stoutly and didn't give up - and even when they broke away people got their bodies back as you're not going to come to a place like the Riverside and have your own way so it was hard three points.
"We felt a nervousness around the place and as we're coming off the back of a good away win at West Brom but overall we defensively we worked really hard.
"The game was more open as it was but that is our strength and we were breaking on them and we put them on the back-foot as we have a lot of pace going forward who can do damage."
90:00+4:04 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
90:00+2:57 Foul by Leroy Lita on Paul Quinn, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by David Marshall.
90:00+2:25 Chris Burke sends in a cross, Tony McMahon manages to make a clearance.
87:12 Shot by David Wheater from outside the box goes over the target.
86:36 Unfair challenge on Sean St. Ledger by Michael Chopra results in a free kick. Tony McMahon takes the free kick.
84:53 The assistant referee flags for offside against Sean St. Ledger. David Marshall takes the free kick.
83:50 Foul by Anthony Gerrard on Marcus Bent, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Tony McMahon from right wing,
clearance by Jay Bothroyd.
83:12 Mark Yeates produces a cross, David Marshall makes a comfortable save.
81:34 A cross is delivered by Tony McMahon, Mark Yeates takes a shot. Save by David Marshall.
80:49 Substitution Ross McCormack comes on in place of Kelvin Etuhu.
78:09 Emanuel Pogatetz fouled by Jay Bothroyd, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Emanuel Pogatetz.
75:44 Mark Yeates has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
75:25 Tony McMahon crosses the ball, clearance made by Mark Hudson.
73:13 Outswinging corner taken by Mark Yeates, Sean St. Ledger produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
72:22 Booking Paul Quinn goes into the book.
72:06 Effort from deep inside the area by Leroy Lita misses to the right of the goal.
70:20 Header by Marcus Bent from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
69:02 Tony McMahon fouled by Kelvin Etuhu, the ref awards a free kick. Brad Jones takes the direct free kick.
68:21 Chris Burke takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
67:19 Substitution Adam Johnson goes off and Marvin Emnes comes on.
65:11 Chris Burke fouled by Mark Yeates, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Hudson takes the direct free kick.
62:44 Mark Yeates takes the outswinging corner, David Wheater takes a shot. Leroy Lita takes a shot. Clearance made by Adam Matthews.
Unfair challenge on Mark Hudson by David Wheater results in a free kick. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.
61:29 Substitution Leroy Lita joins the action as a substitute, replacing Dave Kitson.
60:32 The assist for the goal came from Jay Bothroyd.
60:32 GOAL - Chris Burke:Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Cardiff A goal is scored by Chris Burke from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 0-1
Cardiff.
60:06 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jay Bothroyd by Sean St. Ledger. Chris Burke delivers the ball from the free
kick right-footed from left wing,
59:24 Marcus Bent is caught offside. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.
56:53 Unfair challenge on Joe Ledley by Dave Kitson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Anthony Gerrard.
55:58 Kelvin Etuhu crosses the ball, Effort on goal by Mark Hudson from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
55:16 Chris Burke takes the outswinging corner, Emanuel Pogatetz makes a clearance.
53:32 Dave Kitson challenges Michael Chopra unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Chris Burke,
clearance made by David Wheater.
51:53 Jay Bothroyd gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tony McMahon. Direct free kick taken by Brad Jones.
50:43 Corner taken right-footed by Chris Burke from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Marcus Bent.
50:43 Substitution Adam Matthews is brought on as a substitute for Kevin McNaughton.
50:18 Jay Bothroyd delivers the ball.
49:17 Marcus Bent gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Hudson. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.
48:19 Dave Kitson is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by David Marshall.
47:26 A cross is delivered by Tony McMahon, clearance made by Joe Ledley.
46:48 The offside flag is raised against Jay Bothroyd. Free kick taken by Brad Jones.
46:04 Adam Johnson produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+1:01 The first half comes to an end.
44:37 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dave Kitson by Joe Ledley. Direct free kick taken by Isaiah Osbourne.
43:44 Emanuel Pogatetz challenges Chris Burke unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Burke delivers the ball from the free kick
right-footed from right wing, comfortable save by Brad Jones.
42:55 The referee blows for offside. Rhys Williams takes the free kick.
42:15 Corner taken right-footed by Chris Burke from the right by-line to the near post, Jay Bothroyd takes a shot. Save by Brad
Jones.
40:16 Shot by Jay Bothroyd from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
39:53 The ball is crossed by Chris Burke, clearance made by Sean St. Ledger.
39:21 Effort on goal by Chris Burke from 20 yards. Save by Brad Jones.
38:45 The assistant referee flags for offside against Marcus Bent. Indirect free kick taken by David Marshall.
38:19 Emanuel Pogatetz fouled by Jay Bothroyd, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Emanuel Pogatetz.
37:27 Corner from right by-line taken by Adam Johnson.
36:09 Strike on goal comes in from Mark Yeates from the free kick, David Marshall makes a save.
36:09 Booking Anthony Gerrard is booked.
36:04 Foul by Anthony Gerrard on Adam Johnson, free kick awarded.
35:06 Tony McMahon produces a cross.
34:15 Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Ledley on Dave Kitson. Brad Jones takes the direct free kick.
32:29 Corner taken left-footed by Adam Johnson, David Marshall makes a save.
31:38 Corner taken left-footed by Adam Johnson from the right by-line to the near post, Joe Ledley makes a clearance.
31:38 Substitution Kelvin Etuhu joins the action as a substitute, replacing Peter Whittingham.
30:45 The ball is crossed by Emanuel Pogatetz, Anthony Gerrard makes a clearance.
27:58 The referee blows for offside. Brad Jones restarts play with the free kick.
26:44 The ball is swung over by Chris Burke, David Wheater makes a clearance.
25:56 Mark Yeates produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.
25:31 Dave Kitson takes a shot. Mark Hudson gets a block in.
23:24 Gavin Rae takes a shot. Emanuel Pogatetz gets a block in.
22:42 Corner taken right-footed by Chris Burke from the left by-line to the near post, Brad Jones makes a save.
22:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Hudson on Marcus Bent. Rhys Williams takes the free kick.
20:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Wheater by Jay Bothroyd. Direct free kick taken by Isaiah Osbourne.
20:27 Centre by Mark Yeates.
19:31 Gavin Rae takes a shot. Save by Brad Jones.
19:25 The ball is crossed by Adam Johnson, save made by David Marshall.
16:49 Corner from the right by-line taken by Adam Johnson, David Marshall makes a comfortable save.
16:11 The ball is swung over by Chris Burke.
14:59 Adam Johnson produces a cross, clearance by Mark Hudson.
14:15 Anthony Gerrard concedes a free kick for a foul on Marcus Bent. Adam Johnson delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed
from right channel, Mark Hudson manages to make a clearance.
12:44 Effort from outside the penalty area by Rhys Williams goes wide left of the target.
11:19 Michael Chopra has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
10:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Chopra by Sean St. Ledger. Direct free kick taken by Joe Ledley.
9:55 David Wheater fouled by Jay Bothroyd, the ref awards a free kick. Brad Jones takes the free kick.
8:57 A cross is delivered by Adam Johnson, save by David Marshall.
7:53 The ball is sent over by Tony McMahon, clearance made by Kevin McNaughton.
7:37 Shot by Mark Yeates. Paul Quinn gets a block in.
7:21 Centre by Peter Whittingham, clearance made by David Wheater.
7:00 The ball is crossed by Tony McMahon, Gavin Rae makes a clearance.
5:29 Foul by Marcus Bent on Anthony Gerrard, free kick awarded. David Marshall takes the direct free kick.
4:22 Effort on goal by Adam Johnson from 20 yards. Anthony Gerrard gets a block in.
3:44 Effort from inside the area by Dave Kitson misses to the left of the target.
3:08 The ball is delivered by Adam Johnson, Mark Yeates takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Quinn. Rhys Williams takes a shot from 20
yards. Save by David Marshall.
1:35 Short corner taken by Chris Burke from the left by-line.
0:00 The match begins.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
Bookmark with:
What are these?