Chris Hughton: “Irrespective of whatever the result was, the next game is massive because of who it’s against.
“For our supporters, it is one we desperately want to win.
“Everybody is aware of that in the camp, and we’ll be trying to make sure we get the result that gives our fans the bragging rights.
“They’ve probably not had the best of times of late, so it’ll be a big game for them as well.
“They’ll possibly look at it as a game that will turn the difficult time they’ve had of late around.
“They know that if they can get the best result available then it could change their season.
“They’ve got all the right reasons to want to do well in that game, but we’ve got to make sure we’ve got more reasons.”
BORO'S CURRENT FORM
Middlesbrough 0 Cardiff 1 DECEMBER 13
Middlesbrough 0 Blackpool 3 DECEMBER 8
QPR 1 Middlesbrough 5 DECEMBER 5
Peterborough 2 Middlesbrough 2 NOVEMBER 28
Middlesbrough 1 Nottm Forest 1 NOVEMBER 21
Crystal Palace 1 Middlesbrough 0 NOVEMBER 7
Middlesbrough 0 Plymouth 1 OCTOBER 31
Preston 2 Middlesbrough 2 OCTOBER 24
LAST FIXTURE: BORO 0 CARDIFF CITY 1
Jones, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz, Johnson (Emnes 68), Rhys Williams, Osbourne, Yeates, Bent,Kitson (Lita 62). Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Arca, Hines, Luke Williams.
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 to leave 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.
The hosts started brightly and saw a number of shots blocked in a frenzied opening five minutes.
Dave Kitson also fired wide for Boro from 12 yards, while Cardiff striker Michael Chopra missed the target with a drilled effort from the edge of the area.
Clear-cut chances proved to be few and far between as the opening period wore on, with both teams largely restricted to hopeful efforts from outside the box.
Cardiff suffered a blow in the 32nd minute as Whittingham limped off, with Kelvin Etuhu coming on in his place.
And Middlesbrough came close to taking the lead five minutes later as Mark Yeates' 25-yard free-kick was parried away by David Marshall at full stretch.
The visitors ended the first half on top, with the impressive Burke testing Brad Jones with a curling shot and Jay Bothroyd heading directly at the Australian goalkeeper from a corner.
Johnson fired narrowly over from 20 yards shortly after the interval as Middlesbrough looked to get back on the front foot.
Cardiff boss Dave Jones was then forced into his second change, with Matthews replacing the injured Kevin McNaughton.
Mark Hudson fired over from an Etuhu cross in the 56th minute and the Bluebirds took the lead five minutes later through Burke's inswinging free-kick.
Boro responded immediately and a goalmouth scramble saw Wheater head against the bar before Matthews scrambled away Lita's rebound.
The home side's hopes of getting back into the game were dented when Johnson limped off with 22 minutes remaining.
However, they wasted a fine opportunity to draw level in the 73rd minute when Leroy Lita prodded a shot inches wide with the outside of his right boot.
Cardiff were rarely troubled thereafter and almost added a second late on when the impressive Burke weaved his way into the right side of the box before narrowly failing to pick out Chopra at the far post.