The pressure is growing on Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino after his side slipped to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal against Championship outfit Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Hayden Hackney scored the only goal of the game for the second tier side as Chelsea missed numerous chances in another limp display. The second leg will be played at Stamford Bridge on January 23.

“It is difficult to talk about our performance,” Pochettino told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We created some chances, but we were not clinical enough. This first half of the season, we have created some chances, but we have not won because we were not clinical enough – we must keep pushing.”

Angry Chelsea fans let their feelings be known at the final whistle, leading to a confrontation with skipper Tiago Silva.

It all makes for an unsavoury atmosphere as the big-spending club, who have invested over 1-billion pounds in players in recent transfer windows, but have yet to see any return on that.

Middlesbrough, coached by former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, will be buoyed by their success but know only half the job is done.
“The way they stuck together was very special and makes me proud to see that,” Carrick told Sky Sports.

“We had to show a bit of everything and I’m buzzing. I know what it means to everyone, it was fantastic for me to see so many people so happy and it’s pretty special.

“We will be ready for the second leg and attack the game and see what happens. Football is about dreaming and things happen like tonight which probably shouldn’t happen. We go there with our eyes wide open and know what to expect, but it won’t stop us trying.”

Liverpool host Fulham in the first leg of the second semifinal on Wednesday night. The final is at Wembley on February 25.