After a poor start to the season, top flight survival was far from certain, writes Philip Tallentire. The Carling Cup had been a nice distraction
View gallery Carling Cup win 2004: Semi-final, first leg: Arsenal 0 Boro 1
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How Boro needed the Carling Cup 10 years ago.
Steve McClaren’s side ended 2003 just three points and three places above the Premiership drop zone.
Boro made an awful start to the campaign, taking just one point from the first five fixtures to sit level bottom with Wolves.
They did manage to pick up some vital wins but, as 2004 dawned, top flight survival was far from guaranteed.
The Carling Cup was a nice distraction, however, with wins over Brighton, Wigan, Everton and Spurs - the last two following penalty shoot-outs - earned Boro a crack at the Arsenal.
With the Gunners pushing for the title, it looked like McClaren’s men had landed the worse possible opponents in the last four, with mid-table dwellers Bolton and Aston Villa meeting in the other semi.
With an FA Cup fourth round clash also on the horizon, Boro were looking to put down a marker at Highbury 10 years ago.
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