Team News

Dave Jones made three changes to the side that showed improvement by drawing at Crystal Palace midweek. Aaron Ramsey came back in for Trevor Sinclair, Gavin Rae replaced Ricardo Scimeca and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was back in action against his former club at the expense of Steve Thompson.

Full Report

Middlesbrough forced a corner inside the opening minute and continued to push forward with pace, but their crosses were lacking accuracy in the early exchanges. On four minutes Aaron Ramsey used every inch of his small frame to force a throw-in. Capaldi launched it in and Hasselbaink flicked it on but Parry couldn't quite make it.

Good persistence by Gavin Rae earned City a throw-in and City took a priceless lead through a piece of individual brilliance by Peter Whittingham. Tony Capaldi's initial long ball was cleared but from the second attempt Stephen McPhail jumped highest and it fell to Whittingham. The midfielder took two touches, rolled it back, took another to set himself before curling a wonderful right footer past Mark Schwarzer in the corner.

That was the belief that the City players needed and the home supporters were quick to groan. If the champagne was now on ice then the hotel rooms could've been booked on 11 minutes when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink met Capaldi's cross with a diving header, but he was inches wide.

City continued to pressure with Ramsey shining on the left and forced two consecutive corners soon after which came to nothing. Middlesbrough's passing was wayward and City looked to exploit decent periods of possession. On 19 minutes Paul Parry collected Ramsey's pass and curled his left footed effort just wide of the far post from outside the area.

And the City fans were in dreamland on 22 minutes when the advantage was doubled. Whittingham's perfect freekick found Roger Johnson ghosting in round the back of the 'Boro defence and his diving header across goal gave the 'keeper no chance. The Premiership team finally found some life. Afonso Alves tried his luck from outside the area but Peter Enckelman was equal to it. Alves, still looking for his first goal for the club since his £12m move from Dutch side Heerenveen, then looked to have found some space in the box but Kevin McNaughton made a timely, if a little clumsy, tackle.

City looked like an entirely different outfit to the side we have seen in the Championship in recent weeks. Bizarrely 'Boro were struggling to deal with the simplest of long throws, Johnson again just inches away from sending his header goalbound after it had bounced all the way through to the back stick. At the other end City were defending brilliantly, closing down their opponents with strength and forcing 'Boro into long, hopeful and fruitless balls over the top.

Johnson was close again with five minutes of an unbeleivable half remaining but could not get any power to his header. Minutes later Whittingham forced a decent low block from Schwarzer.

Half Time - Middlesbrough 0 v Cardiff City 2

The home side came out fist pumping after what you would assume was a lively fifteen minutes in the dressing rooms, but their new found enthusiasm to reach Wembley wasn't immediately obvious. Julio Arca's drive was blocked but still their passes were going astray.

City's first opening came on 52 minutes. Hasselbaink was at full stretch to get his toe to a McPhail pass, knocking it into the path of Gavin Rae. The midfielder's angle was growing tighter all the time and eventually his shot was blocked for a corner by Robert Huth.

Moments later Whittingham skipped past his man and dragged it back for McPhail on the edge of the area. The City skipper curled a low shot which appeared to strike the hand of Fabio Rochemback yet nothing was given. Boro came close on the hour just as their play was becoming more desperate. Hasselbaink's handball gifted the locals a freekick just a yard outside the area and Rochemback missed the upright by a whisker.

As each minute past chants of "We're the famous Cardiff City and we're off to Wembley" became ever more believable. Many Middlesbrough fans were already heading for the exits whilst all Gareth Southgate could do was stand with his hand on chin. City grew slightly more cagey as the game concluded but Boro could not create a meaningful opening, their afternoon epitomised by substitute Adam Johnson's effort from the edge of the area which was neither shot nor cross and floated harmlessly wide.

The away fans got louder, the home fans more disgruntled. Substitute Steve Thompson nearly made it three with eight minutes remaining but his header found the 'keeper's arms. David Wheater volleyed over for Boro as they tried to claw their way back in from distance.

The tie was played out in front of more empty seats than supporters and the City fans exploded at the final whistle. The remaining Boro fans, to their credit, offered a ripple of applause as the City heroes left the pitch.

See you at Wembley!

Full Time - Middlesbrough 0 v Cardiff City 2

Att: 32896