What Middlesbrough were missing against Cardiff City as Neil Warnock's side turn attentions to Sheffield Wednesday

Comparisons were made between Boro and Cardiff ahead of Saturday’s meeting, as the Teessiders’ new manager, Neil Warnock, drew similarities to his appointments at both clubs.

Yet Boro were second best in almost every department against the promotion-chasing Bluebirds, a side which Warnock built and honed during his three years in South Wales.

If Warnock does stay at the Riverside next season, and he’s given a strong indication he will, he will hope Boro can undergo a similar transformation, after Cardiff were converted from relegation candidates to Championship promotion winners within 18 months.

Yet on this evidence, there’s a lot of work to do at the Riverside, and this 3-1 defeat means Boro have gone 10 league games without a win at home.

Warnock certainly set his side up in a similar way to Cardiff, now managed by Neil Harris, with both sides starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

It was the same Boro side which started Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Reading, yet any momentum they had quickly evaporated.

After just three minutes, Cardiff captain Sean Morrison was left unmarked by Dael Fry at a corner and allowed to head the visitors ahead.

Morrison is exactly the sort of player Warnock will crave at Boro, a natural leader who is commanding in both boxes and will organise from the back.

George Friend has tried to step into that role since Warnock’s appointment and could once again be heard encouraging his team-mates throughout.

Yet, in an empty stadium without any crowd noises, it was the Cardiff players who were far more vocal, barking out instructions to close players down and get back into shape.

Central midfielder Joe Ralls was another who led by example as the visitors dominated the midfield battle.

Both sides were prepared to go direct from their goalkeepers in the first half, yet it was Ralls and midfield partner Will Vaulks who were winning the majority of second balls. Boro playmaker Patrick Roberts was kept under wraps.

As Warnock pointed out after the game, the Teessiders started with four academy players in their side, and Cardiff’s greater experience showed.

The goals Boro conceded wouldn’t usually be associated with a Warnock side, and the second came from a swift counter attack where the hosts were badly exposed.

Right-back Anfernee Dijksteel hadn’t done much wrong before Cardiff doubled their lead but was sucked out of position for the visitors’ second.

As a result, substitute Josh Murphy was allowed bags of space on the left and duly made it 2-0. This Cardiff side is a well-balanced one which will surely have a decent shot in the play-offs.

While most of the Bluebirds’ attacks came through the middle, they also have pace on the flanks, as shown when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing charged past Fry and crossed for Murphy to make it three.

Britt Assombalonga’s late consolation goal was a case of too little, too late. Back to the drawing board for Warnock and Boro.

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