Sundiata Post – Middlesbrough will take a one-goal lead into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, following a 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night.
Hayden Hackney’s first-half finish for the Championship side put Middlesbrough in front to the delight of the home crowd, while Cole Palmer uncharacteristically spurned three excellent opportunities for the misfiring Premier League team.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team dominated possession but did not do enough to find the equaliser on the night and succumbed to a fifth away defeat in six matches, leaving themselves with work to do to reach the final at Wembley.
Speaking after the game, Hackney said: “We stuck to the plan and tried to keep it tight and catch them on the counter.
“It was a great ball, I just got on the end of it. I think we did really well tonight, but it’s a completely different game away from home. We will give it our best shot.”
The player of the match, Isaiah Jones, added: “Because we were at home, we needed to use the crowd as our 12th man and I thought we did that with our early chances in the first half.
“We have belief. Hopefully, we can go there, get the win and go to Wembley.”
On his part, Middlesbrough manager, Michael Carrick, said: “It was very special. I know it’s a two-legged affair and it’s still all to play for. But given all that we have had to go through as a club, with the injuries and the squad being where it is at, to beat a team of Chelsea’s quality in any shape is unbelievable.
“The lads were exceptional tonight. Their effort was off the scale and it was an incredible night. Seeing the players fighting and scrapping together, bodies were everywhere at the end. It is a great feeling as I am really proud of them.”
Pochettino, who bemoaned missed chances, said: “Today, the approach was good. We can’t say anything about the attitude but we made mistakes in the first half and gave chances for them to score. They were aggressive and played on the transition. It was hard to break down this block.
“We had too many chances to score and that’s football. It’s only the first half of the tie and we have another 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge so we have to be positive.”
Middlesbrough are back in Championship action when they travel to Millwall on Saturday, January 13.
Chelsea, on the other hand, host Fulham at Stamford Bridge in a West London derby on Saturday.
The second leg of Carabao Cup semi-final will take place at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, January 23.