Middlesbrough player ratings vs Cardiff City as Finn Azaz produces the goods in emphatic win

Seny Dieng - 8

Really unfortunate to lose his clean sheet late on. He made a couple of really important saves in the game including early on at 0-0 and just after the restart at 1-0.

Luke Ayling - 7

Another assist and another solid and mature display from the Leeds United loanee. Great vision to pick out Alex Gilbert on the edge for Boro's fourth.

Rav van den Berg - 7

A really composed and dominant performance from the young defender. He dealt with everything that was asked of him with minimal fuss.

Matt Clarke - 8

As well as a solid defensive performance that saw him battle so well with Diedhiou and make a number of clearances from crosses, he also popped up at the other end and scored his first Boro goal to get the ball rolling.

Luke Thomas - 6

Another solid performance from the Leicester loan man without being spectacular. Credit to him, though he didn't have much impact in attack beyond one good chance, he dealt well with the dangerous Josh Bowler after his lively start.

Jonny Howson - 6

A bit of an off-day by the skipper's lofty standards. An early slip that gifted Cardiff an excellent early chance was followed up by giving the ball away cheaply a couple of more times in a low-key first half.

Dan Barlaser - 7

A solid return to the team for the midfielder. He always showed for the ball and was effective when on it, advancing Boro well with his range of passing. Created Thomas' good chance with an excellent ball and played a big role in Azaz's goal.

Isaiah Jones - 6

Relatively quiet one for Jones today. Drifted across the forward three and as such didn't have much impact overall before his early exit for some well-earned rest. Did break with the ball from defence to win the free-kick that led to Boro's opener.

Finn Azaz - 8

A man of the match display for the Boro man who created two and scored his own goal in a brilliant display. While at times he struggled to make much of an impact in a slow-paced first-half, he ultimately provided three big moments that proved the dividing factor between the two sides. His finish for his goal was excellent.

Alex Gilbert - 8

Given his first start on the back of his assist against Leeds, Gilbert took it. Even in a low-key first half he looked the Boro player most likely to do something, with his positivity and eagerness. As well as setting up Azaz's, his finish to score Boro's fourth was emphatic.

Emmanuel Latte Lath - 8

A game that was won in a 15-minute burst at the start of the second half meant Latte Lath didn't have many sights of goal today. But he scored another superb goal to move to ten in 11 games, bringing an awkward ball under control in the process. He's in fine form.

Substitutions

Law McCabe (For Howson, 62') - 6 - The game was as good as over by the time he entered the fray. Despite that, the 17-year-old displayed some confident touches in his longest outing to date.

Sammy Silvera (For Jones, 62') - 6 - Similar to McCabe in that it was hard to impress given the game fizzled out.

Anfernee Dijksteel (For Van den Berg, 74') - N/A

Charlie Lennon (For Gilbert, 74') - N/A

Ajay Matthews (For Latte Lath, 82') - N/A