IT WAS a day Middlesbrough wanted revenge, but instead it was 600 lucky Chelsea fans left toasting Wembley – even if they may not be there themselves!
The build-up to this one had been volatile.
600 lucky Chelsea supporters celebrated an FA Cup quarter-final victory on TeessideCredit: RexBoro’s FA Cup dreams were ended by a side who always seem to leave their fans feeling blueCredit: PA
The Blues, restricted to just the small number that had already purchased tickets before the sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich, failed in an attempt to get it behind-closed-doors.
That meant that the small army of backers from West London may be the final few to watch their side away from home this term.
And just like their heroes on the pitch, they overcame an early sea of red and white noise to ensure they went out with a bang.
But it’s not just the events of the last few days that makes the Blues so disliked around Teesside.
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The bad blood began in 1988 when Boro relegated Chelsea in the play-offs on a day dubbed ‘The Battle of Stamford Bridge’.
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.
Then the agony began for Boro with a hat-trick of Wembley cup final defeats to Chelsea during the 90s.
And it just had to be the boys in blue who delivered the final nail in the coffin during Boro’s limp 2017 relegation campaign.
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It’s a new generation of fans cheering on Chris Wilder’s Boro now, but those agonies of yesteryear still live deep in the hearts of those longer in the tooth.
And that is why Chelsea’s request midweek hit such a raw nerve – especially with chairman Steve Gibson.
The Middlesbrough-born millionaire, involved for all of the above agonies, blasted the attempt as “pathetic” and claimed “sporting integrity and Chelsea do not belong in the same sentence”.
And that was all before he blasted Blues chairman Bruce Buck as an “excuse of a man”.
Things were just as hot outside of the boardroom.
Thomas Tuchel took his boys for a lunchtime stroll in town beforehand in front of stunned onlookers as the tiny Chelsea faithful enjoyed some liquid refreshment in Doc Brown’s.
But little did they know what a hotbed of noise awaited them a mile down the road.
It was 3:45pm when the away team coach was met by loud boos and abuse outside the ground.
And the home supporters were only too happy to dish out a second helping when the Champions League holders emerged for their warm-up.
“I absolutely hate them,” Boro fan Andrew Harris told us. “They left me gutted twice at Wembley as a kid. Now they’ve tried to ruin today for my little lad. We owe them big time.”
The Red Faction unfurled a huge “We Are The Boro Boys” banner as a rendition of “One Stevie Gibson” met the opening whistle.
Chelsea sealed their place in the FA Cup semi-finals next monthCredit: PA
Whether it was the noise drowning them out or whether they had come to their senses after recent weeks, there was no repeat of the “Roman Abramovich” songs from the away end.
But they did make themselves heard after quarter of an hour as the raucous Riverside fell silent thanks to Romelu Lukaku’s opener.
And soon they were all you could hear after Hakim Ziyech doubled the advantage before the break.
“Is there a fire drill” chanted the hardy away crew in the south east corner before a chorus of “You’re only here for the Chelsea” filled the air.
“We all follow the Chelsea, over land and sea” was the song choice for the start of the second period – however true that may be.
Another rendition for Gibson followed before Boro fans sang “Where’s your chairman gone” before a X-rated “F*** off Abramovich” echoed around the stands.
Then it came. Undeterred by the backlash towards him, Chelsea retialited by singing the name of the Russian.
“When Chelsea f***ing die, we’re all having a party” sang the home fans in one last blast at the death – but once again they were left feeling blue courtesy of their bogey club.
