How Middlesbrough star honours his fallen friend & Hackney on radar of EPL clubs

Chelsea's miserable season continued on Tuesday night as they lost 1-0 to Middlesbrough in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Luckily for Mauricio Pochettino's side, they will have a chance to put things right back at Stamford Bridge in two week's time in the second leg of the tie in a bid to reach Wembley.

Hayden Hackney's goal was enough to secure the win for the hosts, with Chelsea's three-game winning run coming to an end at the hands of Championship opposition.

Blues defender Thiago Silva also made headlines, approaching a frustrated away end at full time.

Mail Sport's Lewis Steele was at Riverside to take a look at all the things you might have missed.

How Boro star Crooks honours fallen friend

Middlesbrough star Matt Crooks has a more colourful story than most — and dedicates much of his footballing success to Jordan Sinnott, the former Huddersfield trainee who died after being attacked on a night out four years ago this month.

Crooks became best friends with Sinnott at the Terriers and has raised more than £100,000 since his death, aiming to get underprivileged kids into sport. The Boro forward wears No 25, the same number Sinnott used to wear.

Crooks, 29, has epilepsy, while both of his parents are deaf.

An passage for history

‘You can smell the Bisto whiff of glory on the Riverside air. You can feel the crackling, electric anticipation of high drama and emotional turmoil. You can sense looming destiny. Tonight, against Chelsea, Middlesbrough have the chance to shape history.’

That lovely passage from Anthony Vickers in the matchday programme helped set the scene for a famous night for Boro, 20 years on from their historic League Cup triumph over Bolton at the Millennium Stadium.

Steve McClaren’s side were captained by