Kick-off Third round
Crystal Palace
3–0
Middlesbrough
Full timeCrystal Palace go through
Finished Result checked:
Carabao Cup · 2026/27
Middlesbrough Carabao Cup fixtures and results 2026/27
Middlesbrough's League Cup story has a clear turning point: the 2004 victory over Bolton in Cardiff. Follow Boro's current Carabao Cup fixtures above, or read how two early goals finally brought a major trophy to Teesside after the frustration of earlier finals.
UK kick-off times · GMT / BSTUpdated twice daily · Last fixture check: 14 Nov 2026, 18:00 GMT
Middlesbrough: cup campaign
Championship · Eliminated
Crystal Palace 3–0 Middlesbrough. Full time. Crystal Palace go through. Middlesbrough are out of this season’s Carabao Cup.
Latest Carabao Cup result
Middlesbrough fixtures, results and UK TV
3 matchesKick-off First round
Middlesbrough
1–0
Wrexham
Full timeMiddlesbrough go through
Finished Result checked:
Kick-off Second round
Doncaster Rovers
1–3
Middlesbrough
Full timeMiddlesbrough go through
Finished Result checked:
Kick-off Third round
Crystal Palace
3–0
Middlesbrough
Full timeCrystal Palace go through
Finished Result checked:
Boro's 2004 final: two early goals, then a long wait
Middlesbrough beat Bolton Wanderers 2–1 at the Millennium Stadium on 29 February 2004. Joseph-Désiré Job scored in the second minute and Boudewijn Zenden converted a penalty in the seventh. For supporters who had experienced previous final defeats, the opening minutes offered an almost startling change of fortune.
Kevin Davies replied for Bolton in the 21st minute, leaving Boro with much of the match still to negotiate. There were no further goals. That is why the final is remembered both for its fast start and for the task of protecting a one-goal lead: winning the cup required far more than those first seven minutes.
The victory delivered the club's first major trophy and a place in the following season's UEFA Cup. In practical terms, this one domestic final changed two parts of Boro's calendar: it ended the trophy wait and opened the door to European competition.
Why Cardiff mattered after 1997 and 1998
The breakthrough followed two unsuccessful League Cup finals. Middlesbrough lost to Leicester City in 1997 and Chelsea in 1998. The 1997 season had also included an FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea, so accounts of that period can mention two different cup competitions. The League Cup disappointments are the direct background to the 2004 success.
Steve McClaren's 2004 side overcame opponents including Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal on the route to Cardiff. UEFA's contemporary review places that run within the club's recovery and growth, rather than presenting the final as an isolated good afternoon. It helps explain why the celebrations had meaning beyond a single result.
When browsing Boro's cup record, distinguish the season, the opponent and the competition before comparing finals. The Cardiff win belongs to 2003/04; a search for the 1997 Chelsea final leads to the FA Cup. Those details make a substantial difference to the story.
Middlesbrough League Cup questions
When did Middlesbrough win the League Cup?
Boro won on 29 February 2004, beating Bolton Wanderers 2–1 in Cardiff. The winning campaign was the 2003/04 season.
Who scored in Middlesbrough's winning final?
Joseph-Désiré Job and Boudewijn Zenden put Boro two goals ahead. Kevin Davies scored Bolton's reply before half-time.
Where can I follow Boro's current cup matches?
Use the fixture cards on this page for the current campaign, then open a match for its available details. The Cardiff account is a dated club-history guide, so its opponent and venue should not be used to plan a new matchday.
Guide review
Reviewed . Scores are checked twice daily. Fixture times and TV selections can change.