Middlesbrough were rewarded for their fourth consecutive cup win away from home with a tie-again away from home-at Port Vale, for a chance to make the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Clubs will often label cup competitions as a distraction from league priorities, but the league cup has been the opposite for Michael Carrick’s side, it has provided an outlet and a chance for his fledgling group of players to show what they are capable of.
Players like Morgan Rogers and Sami Silvera in particular have enjoyed a freedom and platform to give the head coach a selection headache of the best kind. Both of the aforementioned struggled in the early league games, but both were on the score sheet in the thrilling encounter at Exeter, with Rogers now joint top scorer in the competition with three goals.
Cup has offered chance to bounce back
Fans of a certain age will remember how Middlesbrough were once one of the few teams to play in every single game in every competition they entered in the 1996/97 season. That fateful campaign that saw two cup finals and relegation. It is unlikely to ever be repeated. With such a thin squad, those cup heroics-whilst wildly exciting-arguably derailed the league form at the back end of that season.
Barring the Bradford tie, each cup game this season has come after a league defeat, offering the players a chance to give the fans something to cheer with a morale-boosting win. They haven’t disappointed, scoring three in every round except Bradford, where they still ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.
Confidence-sapping displays in the league against Millwall, West Brom and Stoke have been put to bed by wins against Huddersfield, Bolton and Exeter respectively.
Fringe players kept hungry
Players like Tom Glover, Alex Bangura, Sami Silvera, Morgan Rogers and Emannuel Latte Lath have all enjoyed first team starts in the cup, which has helped them develop as the await their opportunities in the league. It is the perfect situation for Carrick who knows that at certain intervals, he will have to call upon his full squad given the schedule over the whole campaign. The players who aren’t necessarily playing week-in, week-out are kept fresh, involved and hungry.
It is not only a case of just playing the fringe players irrespective though. Carrick has ensured that those coming in, perform to a high level. Some of the performances from players in the cup are now prompting questions of whether they should start more regularly. For example, fans made their opinions known following the impressive display from Morgan Rogers, who has gradually crept into the discussion for the number ten role after a difficult time at the beginning of the Championship season saw him criticised.
Huge opportunity for the club
Will Carrick stick with the plan of starting with some of the fringe players now that we are at the sharp end of the competition? I guess the schedule, injuries, suspensions, form and countless other mitigating factors will contribute towards that decision.
Middlesbrough have a very presentable chance to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after they were drawn away to Port Vale. That is not to be disrespectful to the League One outfit, but the rest of the draw is made up of Premier League teams Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Everton and Fulham. It is a huge opportunity for the club.
It would represent a monumental achievement should Boro get to the final, let alone win it. The last team outside of the top flight to win the League Cup was Sheffield Wednesday who beat Manchester United in 1991. How the Owls would love to have something to shout about right now.
Who knows? Boro could be on a collision course to meet their north east neighbours Newcastle, or maybe a revenge mission against Chelsea, who seem to regularly break Boro hearts in cup finals.