Cardiff City 1-4 Middlesbrough: Clarke, Azaz, Latte Lath and Gilbert give Boro away win

Matt Clarke's goal was his first of the season

Middlesbrough claimed a resounding 4-1 victory at Cardiff City as the Bluebirds suffered their heaviest home defeat of the season.

Matt Clarke's close-range volley gave Michael Carrick's side the lead at the end of a first half in which they had created the better opportunities.

Dimitrios Goutas hit the woodwork for Cardiff before clinical finishing saw Middlesbrough take total control on their final away day of the campaign.

Finn Azaz steered in Boro's second goal and leading scorer Emmanuel Latte Lath's pace and composure brought him a 10th goal in his last 11 appearances.

Alex Gilbert struck a fine fourth goal before Josh Bowler swept in a late reply for Cardiff, who are left wondering whether this will be a final home game in charge for boss Erol Bulut.

With his contract set to expire this summer, Bulut is waiting to hear whether owner Vincent Tan will offer him the chance to lead Cardiff next season.

This was a fifth defeat in eight matches for Bulut's inconsistent side, who drop to 12th in the table, while eighth-placed Middlesbrough are guaranteed a top-10 finish.

The Teessiders had seen play-off hopes come to end on Monday night, when defeat by Leeds halted a nine-game unbeaten run.

They almost presented Cardiff with an ideal start, with a loose pass in midfield handing possession to David Turnbull, whose lofted, 35-yard effort was heading for the net until a scrambling Seny Dieng pawed the ball over the bar.

Cardiff came again, with Goutas' header bouncing too high, before Middlesbrough's first sight of goal saw Latte Lath denied by the onrushing Ethan Horvath.

The Bluebirds goalkeeper was soon in action again, beating away Luke Thomas' fierce drive, before the opener came from a set-piece.

After Azaz lifted a free-kick into the area, Clarke got away from Famara Diedhiou and saw his cushioned volley bounce in off the bar.

Cardiff were beaten at home in the Championship for the 10th time this season

Chances continued to flow after the break, with Cardiff denied as Goutas' header was turned on to the post by the diving Dieng.

Middlesbrough immediately made the home side pay, as Gilbert drove into the Cardiff area and the ball rolled into the path of Azaz, who lifted home from point-blank range.

Bowler's run quickly presented Turnbull with a similar chance at the other end, but the Scot's shot drifted narrowly wide.

Once more Cardiff were left to rue the missed opportunity, as Azaz sent a clearance over the top and Latte Lath raced away from the home rearguard before coolly beating Horvath.

Luke Ayling then crossed for Gilbert to score his first Middlesbrough goal with a sweet first-time strike, before Bowler rolled into an empty net in added time after Dieng's loose pass.

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut:

"I'm disappointed with the result, to concede four goals, but if we see the whole game, how many chances we had, we didn't deserve to lose that game by three goals.

"We had enough chances to score and even to lead, but we concede in the last second of the first half. Then in the second half we concede a goal in three minutes. That was an unlucky goal.

"We had enough chances to come back but we couldn't finalise our chances.

"We don't have to forget also that we didn't have half of the team with us today, but this is not the reason that we didn't score. We didn't have the final touch today."

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick:

"Really happy with the result. I thought we played really well in bursts really. We capitalised on that with some of the quality of the football and the goals we scored.

"The game drifted a little bit but maybe that's understandable with a few changes. But it's another away win for us and we can be pleased with a lot of things.

"The boys went about it in the right way. It was a real test of self-motivation and pride.

"The desire was there and I am really pleased with the day we've had."