BORO: 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.
CARDIFF: Marshall, Quinn, Hudson, Gerrard, McNaughton (Matthews 51), Burke, Ledley, Rae,Whittingham (Etuhu 32), Chopra, Bothroyd, Etuhu (McCormack 81). Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Kennedy, Taiwo, Wildig.
Worrying? You bet your life it is, Chris Burke scored the only goal of the game as Cardiff moved up to third in the Coca-Cola Championship with a goal that defied belief.
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.
2009/10 BORO RESULTS
MACCLESFIELD 0 BORO 3 (Arca pen, Emnes, Franks)
(1st half) Coyne, Hoyte, Huth, Williams, Grounds, Yeates, Walker, Digard, Cronesberry, Aliadiere, Martin. (2nd half) Coyne, McMahon, Bates, Hines, Johnson, Smallwood, O'Neil, Arca, Porritt, Emnes, Franks.
DUMBARTON 0 BORO 5 (O'Neil, Dunlop og, Aliadiere pen, Adam Johnson, Williams)
Jones (Coyne 46), Hoyte (McMahon 72), Bates (Wheater 72), Huth (Hines 72), Grounds (Taylor 72), O'Neil (J Johnson 72), Arca (Capt) (Williams 72), Digard (Walker 29), Yeates (A Johnson 65), Aliadiere (Franks 46), Emnes (Porritt 63).
CARLISLE 0 BORO 2 (Adam Johnson, Williams)
Jones (Coyne 60),McMahon,Taylor (Williams 72),Bates(Walker 24),Huth,Wheater (Hines 60),O'Neil,Arca(Hoyte 60) 60),Franks,Yeates (Porritt 72),A Johnson (Martin 84)
OLDHAM 2 BORO 2 (Williams, Huth)
Coyne; Williams, Wheater (Huth 64), Hines, A Taylor; Hoyte (McMahon 64), Walker (Yeates 54), Arca (Smallwood 79), A Johnson (Martin78); Aliadiere(J Johnson 78) Franks (Porritt 78) Substitutes (not used): Ripley
MILLWALL 1 BORO 1 (Williams)
Coyne (Jones 46), Hoyte (McMahon, 61), Huth, Wheater, Ground, Yeates, Arca (O'Neill 46), Digard (Williams, 61), Johnson, Aliadiere, Emnes (Franks, 81) Subs not used: Adan Smith, Seb Hines , Andrew Taylor, Josh Walker, Nathan Porritt Goals: Wheater OG 27mins, Williams 78m.
BORO 0 SHEFF UTD 0
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Grounds, Yeates,Williams, Digard (O'Neil 42), Adam Johnson, Aliadiere,Emnes (Lita 65).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Taylor, Arca, Franks.
SWANSEA 0 BORO 3 (Adam Johnson, Emnes, Tuncay)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Williams, Grounds, Yeates (Arca 85), O'Neil, Adam Johnson, Lita (Franks 79), Emnes (Sanli 67).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Taylor, Hines.
SCUNTHORPE 0 BORO 2 (Adam Johnson 2, 1 pen)
Coyne, McMahon, Williams, Huth, Grounds, Yeates (Arca 84), O'Neil, Wheater, Adam Johnson (Hoyte 90), Lita (Sanli 74), Emnes.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Hines, Franks, Steele.
BORO 2 DONCASTER 0 (Tuncay, Lita)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Grounds,Yeates (Aliadiere 72), Williams, Arca, Adam Johnson, Lita (Taylor 84), Emnes (Sanli 16).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Hines, Bennett.
NOTTINGHAM FOR 2 BORO 1 (Adam Johnson) Carling Cup AET
Coyne, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Taylor, Yeates,Williams, Arca (Bennett 106), Adam Johnson, Aliadiere (McMahon 83), Emnes (Lita 65).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Grounds, Hines, Franks.
BRISTOL CITY 2 BORO 1 (Adam Johnson pen)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Grounds, Taylor, Adam Johnson, Arca, Williams, Yeates, Lita, Emnes (Aliadiere 71).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Walker, Hines, Bennett, Franks.
BORO 3 IPSWICH TOWN 1 (O'Neil, Aliadiere 2)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Hines,Taylor (Grounds 41), O'Neil, Williams, Arca (Yeates 77), Adam Johnson, Emnes, Lita (Aliadiere 61).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hoyte, Bennett, Franks.
SHEFF WED 1 BORO 3 (Purse og, Aliadiere, Adam Johnson)
Coyne, McMahon (St. Ledger 82), Grounds, Wheater, Hines, Williams, Adam Johnson, Arca, O'Neil (Hoyte 90), Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 71).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Yeates, Bennett, Franks.
BORO 0 WEST BROM 5
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger, Grounds,Yeates, Williams, Arca (Digard 57), Adam Johnson,Emnes (Lita 67), Aliadiere (Folan 32).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hoyte, Hines, Bennett.
COVENTRY 2 BORO 2 (St. Ledger, Williams)
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger,Bennett (Grounds 64), O'Neil, Williams, Arca,Johnson (Yeates 74), Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 53).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Folan, Hines, McMahon.
BORO 0 LEICESTER CITY 1
Jones, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger,Bennett (Digard 86), O'Neil, Williams, Arca (Yeates 62),Johnson, Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 62).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Grounds, Hines, Franks.
READING 0 BORO 2 (St. Ledger, Lita)
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Bennett,Yeates (Arca 70), O'Neil, Williams, Johnson, Lita (Emnes 88),Aliadiere.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Digard, Grounds, Hines.
BORO 0 WATFORD 1
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Bennett (Hoyte 55), Yeates (Arca 74), O'Neil, Digard, Johnson, Lita, Aliadiere.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pogatetz, Emnes, Grounds, Williams.
PRESTON 2 BORO 2 (O'Neil, Johnson)
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger, Bennett,O'Neil, Williams, Digard, Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Franks 90).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pogatetz, Yeates, Arca, Grounds, McMahon
BORO 0 PLYMOUTH 1
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz (Grounds 53), Arca (Yeates 87), O'Neil, Williams, Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Bent 46).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Digard, Franks, McMahon.
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 BORO 0
Jones, Hoyte (Arca 69), St. Ledger, Wheater, Grounds, O'Neil, Williams, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita (Franks 77), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Yeates, Emnes, Bennett, McMahon.
BORO 1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 (Lita)
Jones, Williams, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz, Arca (Digard 66), O'Neil, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita (Franks 76), Kitson (Bent 57).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Taylor, Yeates, McMahon.
PETERBOROUGH 2 BORO 2 (Kitson 2)
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Pogatetz,Yeates (Hoyte 75), Arca, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Taylor, Riggott, Digard, Emnes, Bent.
QPR 1 BORO 5 (Kitson, Lita 2 (1 pen), O'Neill, Yeates)
Jones, Rhys Williams, St. Ledger, Wheater, Pogatetz, O'Neil (Digard 79), Arca, Yeates, Osbourne, Kitson,Lita.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Riggott, Emnes, McMahon, Luke Williams.
BORO 0 BLACKPOOL 3
Jones, Rhys Williams (McMahon 46), Wheater,St. Ledger, Pogatetz, Arca (Digard 80), O'Neil (Yeates 62),Osbourne, Johnson, Lita, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Emnes, Luke Williams.
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.