Mark Harris' goal was his his first of the season
Cardiff City's excellent first-half display proved enough to secure a 3-2 win at the Riverside Stadium despite a late fightback from Middlesbrough.
The Bluebirds raced into a 3-0 lead at half-time as Callum O'Dowda, Mark Harris and Perry Ng all found the net.
Substitute Duncan Watmore pounced to give Boro hope on 76 minutes and Rodrigo Muniz headed home a second goal for the hosts 60 seconds later.
The win lifts Cardiff to 14th in the Championship, while Boro fall to 20th.
Cardiff's first-half display was as impressive as any they have produced in recent years and it was all the more satisfying for their supporters as the form books did not suggest a successful evening for the Bluebirds.
Cardiff City had not won in their previous five Championship fixtures so it was unsurprising that Steve Morison made five changes to the side beaten 2-0 at his former club Millwall.
Jack Simpson, Joe Ralls, Mark Harris and O'Dowda all returned, while striker Callum Robinson was handed a first league start as Morison rotated his entire front three.
Cardiff's recent form on the road has been poor and they made the long journey north winless in four away league games, having failed to score in their last three away games and having found the net only four times all season.
Though only one point better off than the Bluebirds heading into this game, Boro boss Chris Wilder would have been encouraged by his side's recent form at the Riverside where they were unbeaten in their previous six games.
Wilder unsurprisingly named the same starting XI that won the first Tees-Wear derby since 2018.
Free agent signing Massimo Luongo was added to the squad that beat Sunderland 1-0 eight days ago, with the Australian midfielder on the bench.
However, the hosts barely had an attacking kick in a first-half Cardiff dominated from start to finish.
They took the lead in the fourth minute when O'Dowda showed fantastic composure to finish neatly after his pace sent him clear following Robinson's intelligent through ball.
Harris' close-range header from Simpson's cross was saved expertly by goalkeeper Ben Roberts on 14 minutes as Cardiff pushed for a second.
It duly arrived as Harris made no mistake six minutes later when he fired powerfully past Roberts' despairing dive as he found the net from 20-yards, taking advantage of Robinson's pass after Andy Rinomhota pressed the hosts into conceding possession.
Cardiff were good value for their advantage, with Simpson heading wide as they almost scored a third.
Rodrigo Muniz was Boro's only real attacking outlet in a lacklustre display, but he headed wide with their only shot, on or off target, in the opening 45 minutes.
Cardiff's excellent display was capped with a fantastic team goal on the stroke of half-time as defender Ng danced his way through the home defence to fire home and cap a flowing team move.
The hosts were much more competitive in the second half and Matt Crooks should have done better when he glanced a header wide after Jonny Howson's cross.
However, two goals in 60 seconds totally changed the contest as Watmore finished Isaiah Jones' cross on 76 minutes before Muniz crashed home a header from Anfernee Dijksteel's centre.
It was the Brazilian forward who had the best chance to secure an unlikely point for the hosts, but he fired over under pressure, while Simpson blocked Jones' effort in stoppage time as Cardiff held firm.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsMiddlesbrough
Formation 3-5-1-1
23Roberts17McNair6Fry5Clarke2Jones25Crooks16Howson4Mowatt3Giles8McGree9Muniz Carvalho
- 23Roberts17McNairSubstituted forDijksteelat 45'minutes6FrySubstituted forForssat 89'minutes5ClarkeSubstituted forBolaat 64'minutes2Jones25Crooks16Howson4MowattSubstituted forWatmoreat 45'minutes3Giles8McGreeBooked at 81mins9Muniz Carvalho
Substitutes
- 14Smith15Dijksteel18Watmore21Forss24Luongo27Bola28Daniels
Cardiff
Formation 5-3-2
1Allsop2Romeo23Kipré38Ng26Simpson11O'Dowda35Rinomhota6Wintle8Ralls29M Harris47Robinson
- 1Allsop2Romeo23Kipré38NgSubstituted forNelsonat 79'minutes26Simpson11O'DowdaSubstituted forNkounkouat 67'minutes35Rinomhota6WintleBooked at 85mins8RallsSubstituted forSawyersat 37'minutes29M HarrisSubstituted forColwillat 79'minutes47RobinsonSubstituted forOjoat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Ojo16Nelson19Sawyers21Alnwick25Philogene-Bidace27Colwill37Nkounkou
Referee:Darren BondAttendance:22,124Match StatsHome TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamCardiffPossessionHome68%Away32%ShotsHome10Away6Shots on TargetHome2Away4CornersHome9Away3FoulsHome6Away6Live TextPost update
Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Cardiff City 3.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Cardiff City 3.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Crooks with a cross.
89'Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Dael Fry.
89'Post update
Offside, Cardiff City. Niels Nkounkou tries a through ball, but Sheyi Ojo is caught offside.
88'Post update
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Isaiah Jones.
87'Post update
Attempt missed. Rodrigo Muniz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Marc Bola.
85'Booking
Ryan Wintle (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84'Post update
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84'Post update
Foul by Ryan Wintle (Cardiff City).
83'Post update
Offside, Middlesbrough. Matt Crooks tries a through ball, but Isaiah Jones is caught offside.
82'Post update
Offside, Cardiff City. Romaine Sawyers tries a through ball, but Rubin Colwill is caught offside.
81'Booking
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81'Post update
Foul by Riley McGree (Middlesbrough).
81'Post update
Sheyi Ojo (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Rubin Colwill replaces Mark Harris.
79'Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Curtis Nelson replaces Perry Ng.
77'goalGoal!
Goal! Middlesbrough 2, Cardiff City 3. Rodrigo Muniz (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Anfernee Dijksteel with a cross.
76'goalGoal!
Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Cardiff City 3. Duncan Watmore (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Isaiah Jones with a through ball.
75'Post update
Attempt blocked. Rodrigo Muniz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Isaiah Jones with a cross.
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Source: bbc.com