ANDREW TAYLOR spent more than a decade at Middlesbrough, but wants his former club to have an 'absolute nightmare' when the race for the Championship's top six comes to a close this weekend.

Taylor, who returned to South Wales yesterday after a couple of days back in his native North-East, is facing the prospect of trying to prevent Boro from claiming the fourth and final play-off spot on Saturday.

When the 25-year-old made the decision to turn down the offer of a new contract to stay at the Riverside Stadium last summer, he immediately outlined hopes for his old and new clubs to claim promotion.

Nine months on, however, and Taylor's wish could not be further from the truth. If Middlesbrough are to stand a chance of playing in the Premier League next season then they need Taylor's Cardiff City to lose at Crystal Palace.

Only then will it matter what is going on at Vicarage Road, where Tony Mowbray must ensure Middlesbrough win if they are to make the most of the Bluebirds' slip up at Selhurst Park.

"For purely selfish reasons, and obvious reasons, there's not one single bit of me that hopes Middlesbrough get in to the play-offs on Saturday afternoon," said Taylor.

"It's funny how things have turned out. For it to get to the last day with Middlesbrough needing us to lose to have a chance of getting back in to the play-offs is just mad.

"But there is not one per cent of me that hopes Middlesbrough get there ahead of us. I really did want both teams to go up when I left them last year, but now it has to be just about Cardiff."

Cardiff sit two points ahead of Boro but hold a superior goal difference by ten.

Taylor decided his future had to lie elsewhere when Mowbray indicated he would not be used in his preferred left-back role due to the emergence of Joe Bennett.

It was a sad day for the Hartlepool-born graduate of the club's academy system; the same set-up in which his father, Kevin, remains a coach of the Under-15s.

"I still have a lot of affection for Middlesbrough," said Taylor, who has already exchanged texts with Tony McMahon and Rhys Williams. "I still have a lot of friends there who I keep in touch with and I really do wish them well. I would love to see them back in the Premier League.

"This weekend, though, I hope they have an absolute nightmare. It might sound selfish but I am happy at Cardiff, settled, and I want us to get something to show from a season when we have played some good football.

"It's also difficult for my dad. He obviously wants Middlesbrough to do well, but what he really wants is what's best for his son. I hope the results go our way on Saturday and we reach the play-offs."

To further complicate matters, the fact Cardiff are now managed by Malky Mackay, who left Watford last summer, has led to some fans calling for the Hornets to actually do Boro a favour.

But Taylor, who was on loan at Watford last season, has no concerns. He said: "It's funny with all the connections there is around the two matches, but they won't matter on the day.

"It will be hard for Middlesbrough because Watford is not an easy place to go. I've heard things being said about this and that but footballers are professional and the professionalism is in us all. We will want to win.

"That will be the same for Watford who won't want to lose and it also counts for Crystal Palace, who won't want to lose. They will both want to finish the season with a win.

"I'm sure the Carling Cup semi-final will come in to Palace's thinking. They will want to beat us because we beat them in the semi-final. What I am sure of, though, is that every player involved in the two games will want to win their matches."

Mowbray's hopes of a happy ending on Saturday have been strengthened by the return to fitness of Williams ahead of schedule.

And Kevin Thomson should be available to travel to Watford after recovering from the niggle which prevented him from facing Southampton.