Middlesbrough star addresses ‘disappointing’ blow ahead of Cardiff City clash

Middlesbrough star Luke Ayling has been speaking about the disappointment he and his side have faced after missing out on the Championship playoffs.

Boro have officially fallen short of the top six following a trough-to-take 4-3 home defeat to promotion candidates Leeds United last time out. That defeat leaves them just one point ahead of their next opponents, Cardiff City, and mathematically unable to make up the points to finish inside the top six, and even if they had beaten Leeds, it would have taken another win or two.

Addressing the situation ahead of Boro’s trip to South Wales to take on Cardiff City, loan star Ayling told Sky Sports: “We’re disappointed not to make the top six,” Ayling said. “The boys have done really well to get where we are because there has been so many injuries. We’ve managed to stay in and around it until this point.

“When I arrived, we had some good runs, but also some frustrating times where, particularly at home, we had some results that didn’t go for us. The end of the season probably comes about two or three games too early for us, which is a bit disappointing. But we were nine unbeaten, have something to build on, and we’re hoping to end the season strongly.”

Ayling is currently on loan at Boro from Leeds United until the end of the seaosn, but with his contract up at Elland Road this summer, he is expected to make the move permanent ahead of next season. As for the Bluebirds, they can jump above Boro with a win this weekend, and they only need one point from their remaining two games to guarantee a top-half finish.