Carabao Cup: Interesting Stats Shows Middlesbrough’s Win Over Chelsea Was Not a Fluke

• Middlesbrough stunned Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg
• Michael Carrick’s side emerged 1-0 winners thanks to Hayden Hackney
• Boro’s run in the competition suggests they could go all the way and win

It would be a mistake to rule out Middlesbrough as a potential winner of the Carabao Cup, if statistics are anything to go by.

Boro emerged 1-0 winners over Chelsea in a shock result on January 9, and only need a draw at Stamford Bridge to secure a ticket to the League Cup final.

Hayden Hackney scored the game's only goal as he opened up his body to connect with a cross from Isaiah Jones in the 37th minute.

According to the BBC, Chelsea were guilty of schoolboy finishing with summer signing, Cole Palmer, in particular squandering some excellent chances.

But it was not to be for the Blues, who gave themselves a mountain to climb on January 23, when the two sides meet again.

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Stats back Boro to win the Carabao Cup

Critics can easily argue that Middlesbrough were lucky to have come out with the win on Tuesday.

Being a Championship side coming up against one of the big teams in the top flight, Michael Carrick’s side were typically underdogs.

However, they proved the doubters wrong by labouring the entire 90 minutes to keep Mauricio Pochettino’s side out. There was also a touch of fortune for Middlesbrough, as Chelsea’s wayward finishing helped the home side’s cause.

However, a quick look at Middlesbrough’s run in the Carabao Cup suggests the win over the Blues may have been a stroke of a tactical masterclass from Carrick.

Despite a run of six defeats at home in the championship this season, Boro have won all their games in the Carabao Cup so far this season, according to Sky Sports.

This includes wins over Huddersfield, Bolton, Bradford, Exeter, Port Vale, and most recently, Chelsea.

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These wins look pretty straightforward on paper, but securing six wins without a single draw in a competition is a mark of a potential champion.

The other Carabao Cup semi-final clash will see Liverpool take on Fulham at Anfield on Wednesday.

Thiago Silva apologises to fans

Elsewhere, Sports Brief also previously reported on Thiago Silva’s apology to Chelsea fans after the defeat to Middlesbrough.

Fans were irate at full-time and they made their feelings clear with jeers, prompting Silva and two other Blues to try appease them.