COLE AND CO BURY BORO

Palmer strikes twice as the merciless Blues book a comfortable passage to Wembley

EIGHTEEN months into Todd Boehly’s reign and Chelsea are back to doing what they do best.

The Blues became serial winners and perennial cup finalists under Roman Abramovich, and Mauricio Pochettino appears to have picked up the knack.

This was Easy Street for Chelsea. They swept aside a Middlesbrough team, who embarrassed themselves at Stamford Bridge, and left visiting boss Michael Carrick looking ashen-faced on the touchline.

Cole Palmer struck twice and is rapidly becoming Chelsea’s most important player but it was not even as if the Blues needed to be at their best.

They will surely face a tougher task at Wembley in next month’s final whether they face Liverpool or Fulham but now, finally, Pochettino can look forward with optimism and real hope.

Pochettino reached the Carabao Cup final nine years ago, while in charge of Tottenham, but lost to Chelsea. And now it is a chance for the

Argentine to win his first domestic trophy in English football.

From a bizarre season, which has lurched from setback to disappointment, the mood inside the Bridge was loud and buzzing, as Chelsea are going back to Wembley.

The rout started after 15 minutes and the bizarre own-goal set the tone for Middlesbrough, who pressed the self-destruct button with a string of calamitous defensive errors. Ben Chilwell drove across the pitch, Raheem Sterling’s cross found Armando Broja but, before the Chelsea forward could unleash a shot, Jonny Howson inexplicably steered the ball into his own net.

That levelled the tie on aggregate but Chelsea did not have to wait much longer to establish full control. Sterling played a part again, Axel Disasi put the ball into the middle for Broja and it was

Enzo Fernandez who swept home from inside the box.

Disasi was really in the mood now as the right-back bombed forward, Sterling returned the ball and there was Disasi to fire home.

You were almost left scratching your head wondering where this Blues goal rush had come from.

It was not as if Chelsea were purring with style. They were just taking full advantage of Middlesbrough’s meltdown.

The visitors had another disaster before half time. This time it was Boro defender Dan Barlaser who was embarrassed on the edge of his own box, got caught horribly in possession, and in nipped Palmer to steal the ball and then fire past keeper Tom Glover.

Barlaser sunk to his knees and put his head in his hands, as the fans in the packed-out away end looked shell-shocked. Yet they were still singing.

Mind you, it says something that Mykhailo Mudryk was substituted at half time for Noni Madueke because, even though his team were 4-0 up, the Ukraine winger was still pretty underwhelming.

The second half was a procession. Chilwell, who was

making his first start in four months, after yet another injury lay-off, lasted just over an hour before being replaced by Alfie Gilchrist. Chelsea were able to rest up easy ahead of Friday night’s FA Cup tie with Aston Villa, which is another big opportunity for Pochettino but, you suspect, will be a much tougher examination.

But there was time for two more. Sub Conor Gallagher cut the ball back from the byline, Palmer (right) swept in his second of the night for Chelsea’s fifth. Madueke got another as his shot was deflected in by Boro defender Rav van den Berg. It was another assist for Gallagher. Boro got a late consolation through Marvin Rogers’ (left) curling 88thminute shot.

Now, finally, you can see signs of promise and reason for optimism. Chelsea are used to reaching cup finals.

Pochettino will be expected to bring home the silverware.