Neil Warnock’s magnificent warriors outfought and outmuscled big spenders Middlesbrough at Cardiff City Stadium.

The Bluebirds kept a 14th Championship clean sheet of the season and eased past Aston Villa into second place.

Warnock’s players have belief in each other and the team. They are playing with relentless desire and passion for the shirt.

But City have far more to their game than just beef and hunger. They have an abundance of ability within their squad.

Captain Sean Morrison was man of the match, headed the only goal and was a powerhouse at the back and whenever he went forward for set pieces.

“Morrison just gets better and better,” said Warnock. “In his own penalty area and the opposition’s too, he has grown as the season gone on.

“It was a hugely mature performance from Morrison and when we can’t score everybody defends for their lives.
“We can still grow, we can get even better. We have players coming back from injury, so I can change two or three to give them a breather.”

The attendance was almost 19,000 and home fans went home happy after a totally committed performance and a fiercely contested victory.

Cardiff squeezed the life out of us at times,” said Boro’s Welsh manager Tony Pulis. “We found it difficult to cope. Cardiff have five or six players over 6ft 3, let alone 6ft, so it was always going to difficult, but I have no complaints.

“Set plays were always going to be important, but looking back at it Morrison was all over Gibson for the goal, but we didn’t get the decision and that was the decisive moment.”

It would certainly have been an injustice had referee Darren Bond given anything against Morrison after Boro centre-backs Danny Ayala and Ben Gibson had spent the afternoon wrestling with Cardiff’s big men at set pieces.

Morrison, in particular, was targeted, but just after the half hour he outjumped Gibson to head in at the far post from Junior Hoilett’s deep, inswinging free-kick.

That was Morrison’s third goal in the last four matches

“Cardiff are second in the League for a reason and are exceptionally good at what they do,” said Pulis. “They have an identity, whether you agree with it or not.

“We knew it was going to be difficult and we have no complaints.”

Warnock has genuine strength in depth in his squad now and with Matt Connolly, Kadeem Harris and Craig Bryson all fit there are options. Gary Madine, too, could be involved in the squad at Ipswich Town on Wednesday.

That depth was underlined when Loic Damour took over from Marko Grujic and produced a highly effective personal display over the last 20 minutes, tacking with venom, chasing back to cover and unleashing a volley from 20 yards which brought an excellent save from Boro’s goalkeeper.

“Everybody at the back was magnificent, our forwards did well and we had loads of energy through midfield.

“Kenneth Zohore has been outstanding for us in the last two matches, two great games. That’s as good as he has been in sixth months.”

City made two changes to their starting line-up with Joe Bennett and Sol Bamba taking over from Lee Peltier and Jamie Ward.

The Bluebirds dominated from the start and Boro were hanging on against a home team who are mentally and physically strong.

In-form Adama Traore was a danger man for Middlesbrough, but Cardiff coped with his threat beautifully and were good value for the three points.

Former Cardiff City players Nathan Blake and Danny Gabbidon were both full of praise for the Bluebirds on BBC Radio Wales after the game – and both tipped Warnock’s warriors to maintain their chase for automatic promotion.

The manager, though, doesn’t want any fuss. He doesn’t want his team in the Championship spotlight, is happy for Cardiff to keep making progress under the radar while much of the promotion talks is about Wolves, Aston Villa, Derby County and others.

Cardiff City: Etheridge, Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Paterson (Halford 87), Ralls, Grujić (Damour 70), Hoilett, Armand, Traoré (Peltier 67), Zohore. Subs not used: Murphy, Pilkington, Mendez-Laing, Wildschut.

Middlesbrough: Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Bešić (Assombalonga 61), Howson (Harrison 83), Downing, Adama Traoré, Gestede (Bamford 83). Subs not used: Dimi, Clayton, Cranie, Fry.

Referee: Darren Bond.

Attendance: 18,720.