Chelsea suffered a shock defeat to Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening.

It was Hayden Hackney who scored the only goal of the game to see Michael Carrick’s side emerge victorious.

Cole Palmer came close to levelling the score just before the half-time break but fired his shot over the crossbar from five yards out.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men will now have their work cut out for them in the second leg of the fixture, scheduled to take place on January 23.

Lewis Steele gives his verdict on how each player played.

Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the first leg of their cup tie on Tuesday

It was Hayden Hackney who scored the only goal of the game to see Boro emerge victorious 

Dorde Petrovic 6

There was not a lot he could do about Hackney’s goal in the 37th minute of the game. I wasn’t tested too much following that.

Malo Gusto 5

Gusto continued to threaten forwards and looked to play the ball in behind Boro’s backline, but his Chelsea teammates weren’t making the required runs.

Gusto continued to threaten forwards and looked to play the ball in behind Boro’s backline but his Chelsea team-mates weren’t making the required runs

Axel Disasi 5

Disasi struggled to settle into the game and looked a little apprehensive on the ball, meaning Silva had to take on the lion’s share of the work.

Thiago Silva 5.5

Silva was caught slacking for Hackney’s, but other than that, he was relatively solid. That being said, Boro’s pace down the right may have exposed his age a little.

Levi Colwill 5

It was not a good night at the office for Colwill. He was out of position for Hackney’s goal and almost cost Chelsea with a questionable header in the first 60 seconds of the game.

Enzo Fernandez 5

It was Enzo Fernandez’s long-range shot that provided the opportunity for Palmer. However, the youngster couldn’t finish it off.

It was Enzo Fernandez’s long-range shot that provided the opportunity for Palmer. However, the youngster couldn’t finish it off

Moises Caicedo, 5

Caicedo is still struggling for form. He turned the ball over far too often, with poor decision-making and sloppy passes. Plus, he lost his man for Hackney’s goal.

Noni Madueke: 5.5

Madueke looked a threat throughout the entire game but was taken off by Pochettino in the 62nd minute, cutting his evening short. 

Conor Gallagher, 6

As always, Gallagher showed a good work rate, but very little came from it. He was also guilty of missing a good opportunity in the second half.

Raheem Sterling: 6

I made a couple of good runs down the flank, but nothing really materialised from them. Clearly frustrated by Chelsea’s performance as a whole,

Cole Palmer, 5

It was a night to forget for Cole Palmer. He had the opportunity to level the score just before halftime but ended up firing the ball over the crossbar from five yards out.

It was a night to forget for Cole Palmer. He had the opportunity to level the score just before half-time but ended up firing the ball over the crossbar from five yards out