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A late own goal from Middlesbrough defender George Friend gave Cardiff their first win in three games.

Friend could do little to prevent the ball from going into his own net after Joe Mason's point-blank effort was saved by Dimi Konstantopoulos.

Albert Adomah and Grant Leadbitter were denied by superb saves as Boro failed to score for a third successive game.

Cardiff had half chances through Craig Noone and Peter Whittingham before a slice of luck gave them victory.

One goal looked destined to settle a compelling encounter that epitomised both sides' recent struggles in front of goal.

The Bluebirds shaded the first half, with Noone forcing a smart save from Konstantopoulos, low to his right, while Alex Revell headed over from a Whittingham cross.

Whittingham also tested the Boro goalkeeper, and flashed dangerous crosses across the face of goal that went begging.

Adomah was liveliest in attack for the visitors, and he should have done better from a free header that Marshall saved at point-blank range.

The Scotland international produced an even better save after the break to deny Leadbitter, who met Adomah's low cross.

A draw looked the likeliest outcome, but a goalmouth scramble after Mason's effort was kept out ended with the ball rebounding off Friend over the line.

It gave Cardiff only their second win in six, and was watched by the lowest league attendance of 13,371 since the club moved to their new stadium in 2009.

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade: "For about the first time this season we've had fortune with the goal.

"They'll be disappointed with it because it's taken a deflection off their defender after the 'keeper's tried to clear his lines.

"I actually said to the staff before the game that we've not had a lot of fortune - a ricochet, a penalty, something like that."

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka: "The way we were scoring at the beginning of the season I'm sure we will score again.

"When you have players like we have on the pitch you always think you will score, but to go three games without scoring shows something is wrong.

"It is not normal with our players. so I have to study and work on it for us to score again."