X reacts as Middlesbrough stun Chelsea in Carabao Cup
- Chelsea were uninspiring as they fell 1-0 to Middlesbrough in the semi-final first leg
- Hayden Hackney on target for the hosts; Cole Palmer missed several good chances
- Two sides will meet at Stamford Bridge on January 23
By Tom Gott

Mauricio Pochettino had warned his Chelsea side that they could not repeat their underwhelming performance against Preston North End when they travelled to face Middlesbrough in Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Chelsea did not match that performance, but they got infinitely worse.
A 1-0 defeat has the Blues' hopes of Carabao Cup glory hanging by a thread heaidng into January 23's second leg.
This game got off to a truly uninspired start. Boro were quick out the blocks but soon faded as Chelsea took control of the ball... which is usually bad news.
This Chelsea game is so boring
— MEL 🤍 (@ada3z3x) January 9, 2024
Middlesbrough set up is the lowest of all low blocks 😂
— Ibe (@IbeOkolo) January 9, 2024
These Chelsea attackers need to do something special and magical to breakthrough this wall.#COYB
It looked like Chelsea's control would pay off when Cole Palmer pounced on a mistake and went running straight at Boro goalkeeper Thomas Glover shortly after the hour mark.
'Cold' Palmer looked positively lukewarm, however, as he dragged his effort wide of the post.
I can't believe Cole Palmer missed that sitter. Is that position in Chelsea cursed or what 🙆🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️
— crème de la crème 🇨🇩 🇸🇩 (@TheoIsGOAT) January 9, 2024
Would have put your house on Palmer burying that. Terrible miss
— Michael Volpe OBE (@NoisyMV) January 9, 2024
That profligacy would soon be punished as Boro took the lead through Hayden Hackney.
The classy midfielder was there to tap home after a long ball over the top left Thiago Silva in quicksand and gave Levi Colwill another chance to prove he is not a left-back.
What a goal from hackney 👏🏽 let’s go Middlesbrough ⚽️🔴
— Lorenzo (@Lorenzo64922941) January 9, 2024
lesson from first half: levi colwill is not a fullback
— faye alqaisy (@fayealqaisy1) January 9, 2024
Colwill💀 pic.twitter.com/VDALavgoU4
— Neelam✨ (@NeelamChelseaFC) January 9, 2024
Before the first half was over, Palmer found time to miss two further chances.
Glover dropped a strike from Enzo Fernandez right into the midfielder's path, but Palmer somehow scooped the ball well over the empty goal, before sending a low effort right at the goalkeeper.
nyaa get palmer off his head is gone now 😭
— Russell (@Kidmoth_) January 9, 2024
Palmer misses another chance again this is getting embarassing
— DarkSatoshi (@GenieDons) January 9, 2024
We we have infected palmer with some disease man he just can’t score today WTf 😭😭
— vinny changos (@VChangos) January 9, 2024
With no changes at half-time and Chelsea predictably underwhelming in the early stages of the second half, the vibe on social media became a little sour.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino was in the firing line, with some supporters clearly hoping to see the back of the Argentine in the near future.
Poch made Neymar, Mbappe and Messi look meady. We shouldn’t be surprised.
— Hajir🇸🇪 (@HajirFT) January 9, 2024
Sack poch before the match ends @todd_boehly
— GodFather UX (@Davidopar0dy) January 9, 2024
Enzo Caicedo terrible transfers but Poch is the worst coach in football these days.
— /+/ (@Sxne19iv2) January 9, 2024
The game petered out to a limp, pathetic loss for Chelsea. 72% possession, 18 shots compared to six from Middlesbrough, and yet not once did the Blues look like winning this.
Roll on the second leg.
Liverpool trophy to lose now
— KurosakiKamz🥷🏾 (@TwizzyRidz) January 9, 2024
I think I’ve just seen the start of the end of Poch at #Chelsea. For the last three years the team has been appealing going forward and nothing has changed. If anything that was one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen. To make things worse Boro are really poor…
— Craig Hughes (@CraigHughes16) January 9, 2024
Chelsea is dead with Poch
— Solomon (@solomonmba1978) January 9, 2024
At least there is a second leg 😭😭😭
— Mojo_CFC 🇷🇼 (@elpidios13) January 9, 2024