Middlesbrough will take a one-goal lead into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final after a 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium.

Hayden Hackney's first-half finish for the Championship side put Michael Carrick's men 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. They have left themselves with work to do to reach the final at Wembley. Boro can dream.

Player ratings

Middlesbrough: Glover (7), Van den Berg (7), Fry (8), Engel (8), Jones (8), Howson (7), Barlaser (7), Hackney (8), Bangura (n/a), Crooks (7), Latte Lath (n/a).

Subs: Coburn (7), Clarke (8).

Chelsea: Petrovic (6), Gusto (6), Disasi (5), Thiago Silva (6), Colwill (5), Enzo (5), Caicedo (5), Gallagher (6), Madueke (6), Palmer (5), Sterling (5).

Subs: Mudryk (5), Broja (6), Gilchrist (n/a).

Player of the match: Isaiah Jones.

How Boro took advantage

Boro played with intent from the outset. Levi Colwill's poor defensive header allowed Emmanuel Latte Lath through on goal inside the first minute of the match but the forward failed to connect properly, his shot proving comfortable for Djordje Petrovic.

It was doubly costly for Carrick's side because Axel Disasi's desperate lunge in trying to block the shot caught Latte Lath and the Ivorian was forced off injured as a result of the challenge. Josh Coburn replaced him but Boro then lost Alex Bangura too.

Chelsea were unable to capitalise but should have taken the lead when Jonny Howson gifted possession to Palmer. His shot was dragged wide of the post when well-placed and the Premier League side were punished for this profligacy soon afterwards.

Daniel Barlaser sent Isaiah Jones away down the right flank and his low cross was swept home by Hackney. Moises Caicedo did not track the run but it was a neat finish from the 21-year-old academy graduate to raise the temperature inside the Riverside Stadium.

Pochettino had urged Chelsea to start with more purpose than they had in the FA Cup win over Preston but it was their failure to take advantage of Boro's errors that was the issue here. Palmer missed an even better chance than his first just before the interval.

Tom Glover inexplicably mishandled Enzo Fernandez's tame shot from distance, presenting Palmer with what looked to be a straightforward finish into the open net on the volley. Instead, the England international contrived to spoon the ball over the bar.

This wastefulness has been a theme of Chelsea's season but the advantage of a two-legged semi-final is that there is time to turn it around. Even so, for all their possession, there was a desperation to their play in the second half. Wild shots. Aimless crosses.

It needed a fine rearguard action from Boro to keep them out but amid a special Teesside atmosphere, they did just that. Chelsea will fancy their chances back at Stamford Bridge on January 23. But they will need to take them. It is Boro who lead going into the second leg.

What's next?

Middlesbrough are back in Sky Bet Championship action when they travel to Millwall on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

Chelsea host Fulham at Stamford Bridge in a West London derby on Saturday, kick-off 12.30pm.

The second leg of this semi-final will take place at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday January 23, kick-off 8pm.

Teams

Middlesbrough Glover, Van den Berg, Fry, Engel, I. Jones, Howson, Barlaser, Bangura (Clarke 20), Crooks, Latte Lath (Coburn 5), Hackney
Subs Not Used J. Jones, Gilbert, O’Brien, Kavanagh, McCabe, Bridge, Bilongo
Booked Jones
Goals Hackney 37

Chelsea Petrovic, Gusto (Gilchrist 90), Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Fernandez (Broja 63), Caicedo, Gallagher (c), Madueke (Mudryk 63), Palmer, Sterling
Subs Not Used Bergstrom, Bettinelli, Williams, Golding, Washington
Booked Colwill
Goals

Attendance 32,097

Referee Sam Barrott

VAR N/A