Unbeaten since Watford and improvements against Cardiff: The markers which show Middlesbrough are making progress under Neil Warnock

It wasn’t that long ago that Middlesbrough were comfortably beaten by an in-form Cardiff team who were being tipped for promotion by Neil Warnock.

Three months have passed since last season’s 3-1 victory for the Bluebirds at the Riverside Stadium, yet the gap between the two sides appears to have closed significantly.

When the clubs met on Teesside back in July, Warnock had spent just three weeks in charge of Boro while the threat of relegation still lingered.

Since then, the Yorkshirman has enjoyed a full pre-season to work with his squad, and it’s fair to say fans will be looking up the table rather than down this campaign.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Cardiff was another indication of the progress Boro have made under Warnock, despite Sheyi Ojo’s second-half equaliser after George Saville headed the visitors ahead.

With seven games gone, it’s still a bit early to be getting too carried away, especially as Boro’s squad remains thin and, despite some encouraging performances, they have won just two of their opening seven league games.

Yet many supporters appear to be in the glass half full camp, pointing out the Teessiders are now unbeaten in six since an opening day defeat at Watford.

Boro may be 13th in a fledgling Championship table but have played the top four sides at this early stage.

Throw into the mix that Warnock missed two league games after testing positive for Covid-19, and it can be considered a decent start to the campaign

Yet Warnock will feel his side should have more points on the board, and once again criticised a refereeing decision which led to Cardiff’s leveller.

On review, Bluebirds midfielder Will Vaulks did appear to block Saville, allowing Kieffer Moore to head the ball into Ojo’s path.

Yet, on balance of play, a draw was probably a fair result as the hosts finished strong.

That pressure came from Cardiff switching to a 4-4-2 formation as Robert Glatzel was introduced to play alongside Moore up top.

There was some irony, then, when Cardiff boss Neil Harris said it was a tough game because Boro played ‘smash it over your head’ football.

It was fair to say this wasn’t the prettiest game to watch, with both sides going direct in the persistent rain.

Cardiff also made use of the pitchside towels to utilise Sean Morrison’s long and flat throw-ins. It was a bruising encounter.

Yet, unlike the previous fixture between these two sides, Boro were tough, well organised and didn’t give much away.

When Warnock first arrived on Teesside, he admitted it was hard to know what to expect from one week to the next.

Now, though, his players are finding a level of consistency, and won’t give anyone an easy ride.

Boro’s players have also shown they are adaptable, and seamlessly switched to a 4-3-3 system to match Cardiff up on the flanks.

The important aspect was that everyone knew their jobs, and Warnock’s men kept their opponents at arms’ length for large spells.

Eventually Cardiff broke through, the first goal Warnock’s side have conceded since a 2-1 win over Barnsley three games ago.

Still, this was another indication the Teessiders are making progress.

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