Full-time: Cardiff City 0 Middlesbrough 1

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer is someone who should know quite a lot about successful strike partnerships having enjoyed more than a decade of success at Manchester United.

And the Norwegian, nicknamed the baby-faced assassin for his predatory finishing at Old Trafford alongside the likes of Teddy Sheringham and Dwight Yorke, got to experience the attacking duo Aitor Karanka thinks could fire Middlesbrough out of the Championship this season – and came off second best.

This might not have been the night that will leave Football League defenders wary of the Jelle Vossen and Kike combo, yet having been unleashed from the start together for the first time Middlesbrough got the job done.

Kike, who has already become a favourite with fans, was the match-winner, netting the only goal of the game with a deadly volley with a little over one minute on the clock.

After that Middlesbrough never looked like conceding the advantage, although did turn in an effective, counter-attacking performance to close in on the top six courtesy of a third consecutive away win.

While Solskjaer’s problems intensified at Cardiff after winning just one of their last five, losing back-to-back home games too, Karanka is developing a team worthy of being considered promotion contenders and this result proved why.

Middlesbrough might not have brushed Cardiff aside with ease, but they defended strongly and broke forward with confidence to torment a side struggling to come to terms with life back in the Football League following relegation from the Premier League.

An instant yellow card for Daniel Ayala, his fifth of the season meaning a one-game ban, could easily have been the start of a long night for Middlesbrough. Instead, after his trip on Tom Adeyemi inside just 25 seconds, it proved just perfect.

Peter Whittingham’s delivery in to the area was well dealt with by the visiting defence and they immediately launched a clinical counter-attack. Adam Clayton played Albert Adomah in to space down the right.

The Ghana international, a constant menace for full-back Matthew Connolly throughout the first half, ran at speed deep in to the Cardiff half and curled in a precise centre for Kike, left unmarked, to cushion a side-foot volley expertly beyond goalkeeper David Marshall.

With just 88 seconds on the clock, Middlesbrough could not have wished for a better start and was just reward for the decision to start with both Vossen and Kike up front.

In the build up to the trip to Cardiff, Karanka had suggested it was too early for Vossen to make his full debut because of a lack of match fitness. Yet, when the teamsheet was confirmed, he was named at the expense of Lee Tomlin, who dropped to the bench.

Vossen got involved in plenty of neat link up play, but never really threatened Marshall. The danger signs, at least in their early exchanges, were from Adomah. Every time he got down the line he caused problems and Adam Reach very nearly got on the end of another of his crosses to make it two.

The encouragement Middlesbrough got in the first half led to Cardiff’s fans chanting ‘Ole sort it out’ in the direction of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the home team did cause the occasional problem at the other end.

But when Cardiff looked like they might test goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos, he was well protected by those in front of him. Kenneth Omeruo, preferred ahead of Ben Gibson after returning from international duty last week with Nigeria, and George Friend made the most effective contributions.

Yet a strong chorus of boos echoed around the Cardiff City Stadium at the sound of the half-time whistle, so Solskjaer could not afford for his players to come out and fail to test Konstantopoulos after the restart. That was pretty much what happened, however.

When the towering Greek was called in to action to gather a corner in to his six-yard box just before the hour, he quickly threw the ball out for Friend to turn defence in to attack. He linked with Reach before the ball was rolled back to Clayton 20 yards out.

The former Huddersfield man’s low drive was well turned away by Marshall and it looked as if Vossen’s big moment had arrived, only for the ball to trickle just out of range of a quick rebound and Cardiff survived.

That was his last chance, with Tomlin replacing him soon after. He was the second substitute of the night because Karanka was forced to take off Abella, who was stretchered down the tunnel, and bring on Emilio Nsue around the hour mark.

Tomlin injected a fresh approach to the attacks and he almost scored moments after coming on. He directed a shot just wide as he looked to prove to Karanka that he should not be forgotten about following Vossen’s arrival.

In the latter stages Cardiff did push on and went close with chances spurned by Aron Gunnarsson, Juan Cala and Connolly. Had any of those gone in, a result different to victory would have been harsh on Middlesbrough.

Match ratings

Goals:

0-1: Kike (2, cushioned a side-foot volley beyond Marshall from Adomah’s cross)

Bookings: Ayala (1, foul); Abella (37, foul)

Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire) – a couple of early bookings but after that kept the game flowing. 6

Attendance: 19,711

Entertainment: 3/5

Card Boro

Shots on: 1 2

Shots off: 10 9

Corners: 4 6

Offsides: 2 1

Fouls: 11 13

CARDIFF CITY (4-1-3-2): Marshall 5; Brayford 6, Manga 6, Cala 5, Connolly 4; Whittingham 6; Daehli 6 (Le Fondre 58, 5), Adeyemi 4, Pilkington 4 (Guerra 73); Macheda 3 (GUNNARSSON 46, 6), Jones 6. Subs: Eikrem, Burgstaller, Moore, Gabbidon.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2):

7 Konstantopoulos: Rarely tested by Cardiff’s forward but was solid when called upon;

6 Abella: Stupid booking for a foul in the first half and his night came to a premature end when he was stretchered off just after the hour

6 Ayala: Faces a one-match ban after collecting his fifth caution of the season inside the opening 25 seconds

8 Omeruo: Slotted seamlessly back in at the expense of the unfortunate Gibson but hardly put a foot wrong

7 Friend: Defended strongly and made a couple of important stops to thwart the red advances;

7 Reach: Might not have been as dangerous as he would like but brings balance to the side

8 CLAYTON: Developing an understanding with Leadbitter in the middle and even starting to burst in to the box to pose a threat

7 Leadbitter: Never looked like adding to his impressive six goal tally but still put the work in through the middle

7 Adomah: A telling cross for Kike created the opening goal and he was particularly impressive in the first half;

6 Vossen: Did not have the impact he would have liked on his first start but got minutes under his belt

7 Kike: Took his goal in predatory fashion to take his tally for the season to four

Subs:

Nsue (for Abella 64): Ensured Boro did not miss Abella. 5

Tomlin (for Vossen 66): Almost scored after his introduction. 5

Bamford (for Kike 87)

(not used): Blackman (gk), Gibson, Whitehead, Wildschut.

MAN OF THE MATCH: ADAM Clayton – the driving force from midfield throughout.