IT’S THE little-known rivalry that few outside of Chelsea and Middlesbrough know about – but it stems back 36 years.
Championship side Boro head to Stamford Bridge tonight looking to secure a place at Wembley.
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Michael Carrick’s team lead 1-0 against the Blues as they go in to the Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg.
Knocking out the billionaire boys from the Premier League would undoubtedly go down as one of the most famous nights in Boro’s history.
And it would be all the sweeter for those elder fans that have been waiting years to get one back over the West London club.
The bad blood began in 1988 when Boro relegated Chelsea in the play-offs on a day dubbed ‘The Battle of Stamford Bridge’.
Second Division Middlesbrough had defeated the First Division strugglers 2-0 in the first meeting in the north east.
Thousands of supporters made their way from Teesside to witness Gordon Durie strike for the Blues in the capital – but the visitors held their nerve to relegate their hosts and win promotion.
And that result sparked pure chaos at the Bridge as pandemonium broke loose after the final whistle.
Angry home fans broke through fencing at the infamous Shed, charging past the police and heading straight for the enclosure holding the away followers.
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Hordes of thugs broke through fencing at the infamous Shed End at full time, charging past police to launch missiles at Boro supporters in disgusting scenes.
Makeshift missiles were launched into the stand, bombarding the irate Boro supporters, with many trying to break through the caging to confront the aggressors.
A police officer was injured during the shocking scenes and had to be carried from the pitch on a stretcher.
Despite their joy on the pitch that day, the agony then began for Boro with a hat-trick of Wembley cup final defeats to Chelsea during the 90s.
Firstly it was Tony Dorigo’s free-kick that ruined their first-ever visit to the Twin Towers in the ZDS Cup Final in 1990.
Seven years later it was Boro’s FA Cup Final dream that was ruined by the boys in blue just a week after they had been relegated from the top-flight.
Roberto Di Matteo needed just 43 seconds to break the deadlock before Eddie Newton wrapped-up a 2-0 win late on.
Boro had a shot at revenge the very next season as they secure promotion back to the top-flight.
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The two sides met again at Wembley in the League Cup Final and this time it went to extra-time – but that man Di Matteo would prove to be Boro’s nemesis once more.
Frank Sinclair made the breakthrough in the fifth minute of the additional time and then the Italian secured another 2-0 triumph and trophy for Chelsea.
And it just had to be Chelsea who delivered the final nail in the coffin during Boro’s limp 2017 relegation campaign.
Even Middlesbrough’s absence from the Premier League since then has still not spared them from more misery.
Two years ago they had enjoyed a brilliant run to the FA Cup quarter-final having dumped out Manchester United and Tottenham.
But once more it was Chelsea celebrating as they left the Riverside thanks to strikes from Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech.
However, it was a local boy that landed one right on the nose for Boro as the rivalry was renewed a fortnight ago.
Redcar-born Hayden Hackney, 21, gave the whole of Teesside hope that finally the momentum in what has been a one-way war was beginning to shift.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Now over 4,000 supporters heading down south could be part of another fairytale evening at Stamford Bridge – although, hopefully this time there will be no gauntlet of home fans baying for blood to contend with.
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