Kim Hellberg – perhaps mindful of Boro’s slip from the automatic spots last season – spoke in the week of the season being a marathon.
Maybe that was in mind when Kyle Jospeh was given the nod ahead of Lankshear, with the legs of the 21-year-old striker needing to be preserved a little for the long run ahead.
That didn’t lessen the surprise when the line-ups were announced, especially given it is only Erling Haaland who has matched Lankshear in registering double-digits in goals in all competitions in England this season.
Credit to the Boro boss, though, who made the changes the game at half-time. Not just with the introduction of Lankshear, but with bringing on midfielder Seb Berhalter for defender Luke Ayling at the break.
In truth, Middlesbrough should have found a way to win after they completed their comeback with still half an hour to play. There was no late winner as per at Stoke in midweek.
But there is still something to be said for a side who have made a habit of earning points from losing positions, this following comeback wins against Lincoln and Norwich, as well as recovering from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Millwall. They will hope there is no such recovery needed when they head to Bolton on Friday.
Though it will sting Cardiff, it should also offer the Bluebirds hope. Still affected by injuries, they showed a clinical side that has been lacking so often on their return to this level and has contributed to their position in the table.
This marked the start of a daunting run of fixtures that continues with the visit of Birmingham City on Saturday before three games in a row against the recently relegated trio: Wolves, West Ham and Burnley.
Hellberg’s pre-game assertion of Cardiff’s impressive football played out, the visitors with some eye-catching one-touch football and confidence to carry it out against one of the division’s most-threatening sides.
And, ceding possession in a game for the first time this season, it was pleasing to see Cardiff hold out even when down to 10 following Osho’s red.
That could cause a problem with Cardiff already short of centre-back options, but there were certainly some positives to bring back from the north east.