SAINT JAKE A BLESSING FOR ALBION BORO:

Middlesbrough

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Burton

1 NIGEL CLOUGH masterminded a famous Burton victory – at the club where his dad Brian was a hero.

A decade ago Burton were a non-league side, now they will face a Premier League giant in a semi-final for a game at Wembley.

Clough Jr and his brave League One battlers ruthlessly exploited Middlesbrough’s chronic home form and clinched their first-ever major semi-final place.

A second-half strike from Southampton loanee Jake Hesketh sealed a deserved win with a commanding performance after the break. It leaves Tony Pulis fighting to keep Boro fans on side. They taunted him with chants of “Attack, attack, attack”, knowing Boro have netted just five goals in their last nine home games.

Brian Clough netted 204 goals in 222 games for Boro, and Nigel now has their scalp, along with those of Burnley, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest in this competition.

Albion looked hungrier than the Teessiders, and were rewarded with the winner thanks to excellent work from Hesketh. The Saints midfielder won a brilliant tackle on the edge of the box, as the ball rebounded off the post from Jamie Allen’s shot.

Hesketh tackled and swivelled in one motion and curled inside the post to give Clough’s men sight of another famous victory.

They carved Boro open at will after the break, exploiting confusion on the right side of their defence.

But Burton needed an astonishing 84th-minute headed miss by Aden Flint from Marcus Tavernier’s cross to stay in front. Two yards out, Flint sent the ball across goal rather than simply putting it in.

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