Middlesbrough head the corner away but Chelsea come back at them.

It took them a few minutes but the home side look to have woken up in this game.

Image source, Reuters

Dan: So far one team have come out looking like they really need to get a result and it's not the Blues.

Anon: As a neutral, I'm firmly behind Boro tonight just purely based on my love of Bob Mortimer.

Ralph: Surely all the neutrals want a Middlesbrough v Fulham final??

Chelsea string a few passes together in the Middlesbrough half for the first time in the game and the move ends with Mykhailo Mudryk's shot being deflected over the bar for a corner.

Middlesbrough have started by far the quicker of the sides and get the ball into the box again.

It's a low teasing ball from Marcus Forss but Chelsea can clear. The Boro fans are loving what they're seeing so far here.

Image source, PA Media

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

If Boro could get a goal, well that would be massive for them. That would ask a lot of questions of Chelsea.

Image source, Getty Images

Thiago Silva is 39 now but he still has the turn of pace required to get across and stop Matt Crooks getting a free run in on goal.

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

The amount of talent on show and the players they have, it is just about energy for me, with Chelsea.

They need to ask as much as possible of the travelling team.

Good work from Morgan Rogers down the left for Middlesbrough, twisting and turning to try and get past Axel Disasi.

He puts a low ball into the box but it runs through to Djordje Petrovic.

Positive start from the visitors, though.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Howell
BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

It does feel like a big game at Stamford Bridge this evening. It's the loudest the stadium has been for while at the beginning of the match.

Both sides are still feeling each other out early on.

Middlesbrough win possession in midfield and have the chance to break but Chelsea quickly get players around the ball to end the attack.

We're under way in the semi-final second leg...

Before kick-off, there is a minute's applause for former Chelsea striker Tommy Baldwin, who died this week aged 78.

The teams are out and here is a quick reminder of how they will line-up...

Chelsea: Petrovic; Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Enzo; Mudryk, Palmer, Sterling; Broja.

Middlesbrough: Glover; Van den Berg, Clarke, Fry, Engel; Barlaser, Howson, Hackney; Rogers, Crooks, Forss

Martin: We cannot underestimate how much better Boro have been since Carrick took over from Wilder and much poorer Chelsea have been since Boehly bought the club. Is Carrick the only ex-player from that 'golden generation' of England internationals who hasn't managerially bombed?

Anon: My wife’s family are all from Boro and having visited many times I just know how huge this could be for the community. It’s so much bigger than football for this town. Sincerely hope every single neutral is supporting the Boro tonight.

We've got a light show and flame cannons in the middle of the pitch.

Fans of both sides are in great voice and the players are waiting in the tunnel.

Stamford Bridge is ready.

Stewart Downing
Former Middlesbrough and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

This is a big, big week for Chelsea. If they go out tonight, then the pressure going into the Aston Villa game is massive.

But if they win tonight and overturn it, they get to a final and everything is rosier.

Obviously, they want to be challenging for titles and in the Champions League but I would see that as a step towards where they want to be.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Chelsea fan Dan Silver on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I wouldn't say we are confident. It is a season-defining game for us. Wembley on the horizon, and we need to play a lot better than we did last time.

"Middlesbrough are brilliant and set up well but I would say the home advantage, under the lights, who knows. It's been a very weird season so far.

"In terms of chances created we are top of the league, and at the top of the league for missed chances. We need a really good start and get the fans behind us because we have been a bit flat. It changes the whole dynamic and we can do that if Palmer gets his shooting boots on."

The atmosphere is building at Stamford Bridge with 10 minutes until kick-off.

It goes without saying in a semi-final but, even more so than usual, this feels like a huge game for both sides.

There is a lot of talk about this match being a crunch moment for Mauricio Pochettino, and we want to know from Chelsea fans whether you agree or disagree with this sentiment.

Overturn the 1-0 aggregate deficit against Middlesbrough, and the Blues reach the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, in his first season in charge.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

Mauricio Pochettino has written in his programme notes that the players know what they have to do to get to Wembley.

He called on the fans to build the atmosphere in his press conference and he's also done it in the programme. He knows how big a chance this is to start building momentum in his project.

Image source, Getty Images