by Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough can now dream of emulating Steve McClaren’s class of 2004 by winning this competition and thus doubling the club’s major draw at Home.
First of all, their semi-final is up for negotiation before any tilt at Wembley glory but they are entitled to picture themselves as Boro immortals and join the star-studded lineup from 19 years ago.
Related: Chelsea v Newcastle United: Carabao Cup quarter-final – live
Gareth Southgate, Mark Schwarzer, Gaizka Mendieta, Juninho and Boudewijn Zenden were in the McClaren XI that beat Bolton 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and his seventh minute penalty was the winner. Carrick’s team is much more modest but, as a two-time competition winner when he is a midfielder with the Manchester United culture, he has invaluable knowledge that he can pass on to his players.
Carrick said: “Football can be a beautiful thing and cup competitions can liven that up – we’re in the competition to go as far as we can. We’ll have to see – that’s the beauty of the potential. I thought the attitude of the players was excellent.
“As for me [the pleasure] was to see the happiness on their faces. We’re not stupid – we know whoever’s in the draw will want to play us – but we’ve got a chance to make one last inspiration in ourselves. Sometimes the door of opportunity opens and I thought we ran through it tonight.”
Two of Boro’s potential opponents are Fulham and Chelsea, with Liverpool and West Ham set to play in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Port Vale had never reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup before, so although they had a disappointing end to the game, they can always be proud after an evening that was, quite simply, the difference between the class of their visitors.
“Port Vale, it’s the quarter final of the Carabao Cup!” salvo MC’d the stadium before a blast of Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams that had the ground moving. However, the party mood lasted exactly 12 minutes when Carrick’s men struck through Jonny Howson, whose 20-yard shot went past Jason Lowe without giving Connor Ripley any chance.
Boro’s second followed soon after. Sammy Silvera found the ball courtesy of Conor Grant’s slip and Morgan Rogers slotted home an unmarked delivery from the right. Vale needed to hold on to hope and they did when Ethan Chislett got up the left and sent in a cross which Gavin Massey was bound to leap over but his connection was wild and high.
The issue for Andy Crosby’s men was how, while putting numbers forward, they were being caught too often in possession. They had to gamble because of the score – but the prudent course was to wait a little longer before fully committing to an attack.
Middlesbrough finished 13th in the Championship but just six points adrift of the play-offs while Vale were 15th in the next division showing why they have a goal difference of -11. When Matt Crooks moved through as the break approached, only a chipped header saved Vale from a 3-0 deficit.
After the away end singing “Ripley, Ripley, what’s the score?” to the home keeper, who was born in Middlesbrough and is the son of Stuart – himself a former Boro senator and still a fan favorite – sent the third goal over. Crooks’ aim from about 15 yards was unerring. Rogers provided the assistance.
This came five minutes into the second period and it was game over as Ripley had to fight off another chorus of “What’s the score?” as well as a heartfelt rendition of “He’s Gonna Cry in a Minute”. There was a sad moment, however, as Ollie Arblaster – on loan from Sheffield United – needed treatment and was forced to. “He’s in bad shape, and he’s gone to the hospital,” Crosby said. “So that’s our No. 1 concern right now.”
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The Rock side were in charge, knocking the ball around from the back to each wing, cleaning up pitches at will, moving the white shirts around like they were Subbuteo figures. A raid on the left side engineered space for Silvera to tease the ball between his legs and shoot but narrowly misses.
A sequence of multiple passes took effect and made the contest look like a Boro training exercise. Then came a rare chance for Chislett, but it was a powder effort that put no pressure on Tom Glover in his first piece of work.
The Vale community had warmed up – a great sign of the nobility of the opponents – and many of them started to leave on a cold night in the Potteries. You could hardly blame them as their teams were still learning as this tie went down.
