BACK in 1988, a battling Middlesbrough side beat Chelsea over a two-legged play-off final to reach the Old First Division. Unlike the present day format, the team which finished fourth from bottom in the First Division was entered into a serious of play-offs with the teams which finished third, fourth and fifth in the Second Division.

That season, Chelsea were pitted against a Middlesbrough side that deserved their chance at promotion after a season of firstclass entertainment and heroics.

The first-leg saw the London side, which boasted the likes of Pat Nevin, Kerrie Dixon and Steve Clarke, travel to the North-East to battle it out with Bruce Rioch’s men in front of a 25,000-strong crowd at Ayresome Park.

It was a nervous start for the home side, with Nevin and Gordon Durie both missing chances to put Chelsea ahead. Boro managed to ride out the storm though, and on the half-hour mark they got the breakthrough.

Bernie Slaven broke down the left and swung in a cross and just when it seemed Kevin Hitchcock would gather the ball with ease, the goalkeeper failed, leaving Trevor Senior to head in his fourth goal in eight appearances.

Chelsea did have chances to get themselves back into the game, but Boro held their own and scored a second eight minutes from time through leading goalscorer Slaven.

Senior sent a terrific cross-field pass towards the Scot and, although his initial shot was blocked by Hitchcock, he made no mistake with his second effort, which blasted into the back of the net.

Despite their two-goal advantage heading into the second-leg, the Boro squad were under no illusions that the tie was far from over.

As expected, the intimidating atmosphere of Chelsea’s notorious fans would frighten Boro’s experienced side and it showed, particularly in the first-half when Durie reduced their lead.

From then, many probably anticipated Chelsea to go on and win the tie, but after the halftime break, Rioch’s side returned more composed and confident and, as the half went on, they grew in stature, led by skipper Tony Mowbray.

The tension was unbearable as the game entered the dying moments, but the Boro boys held on to win the tie 2- 1 on aggregate, sealing their promotion to the First Division.