Seven games led to silverware and a day that all associated with Middlesbrough Football Club will never forget.

It's 20 years this week since Boro lifted the Carling Cup. The journey to Gareth Southgate's trophy lift in Cardiff was packed with twists and tension. 

This is the story of Boro's run

Round two - Middlesbrough 1-0 Brighton AET (Christie, 94)

Pretty it most certainly was not but, not that it was known at the time, the hard-fought grind of a victory over second division Brighton would prove to be one of the most important results in Boro's history.

Ahead of the game, Gareth Southgate had described the Carling Cup as Boro's "best chance of success" and boss Steve McClaren clearly agreed, for he named his strongest starting XI.

But Steve Coppell's Albion frustrated the home side, who were taken to extra-time before substitute Malcolm Christie's instinctive flicked finish to break the deadlock.

"Everyone knows these games are potential banana skins but we got there in the end," said a relieved McClaren.

Boro were on their way.

Round three - Wigan 1-2 Middlesbrough (Maccarone, 36; Mendieta, 66)

"We gave them a real scare," said Wigan boss Paul Jewell after Jimmy Bullard's goal 15 minutes from time had made Boro sweat.

"We didn't fold under pressure and we got the breaks at the right time and hung on at the end," said McClaren, who had again gone strong with his team selection.

Seven of the starters at Wigan would be in from the off come the February final.

When you think of Massimo Maccarone and Gaizka Mendieta's stand-out Middlesbrough moments, Wigan probably doesn't immediately spring to mind but the duo struck either side of half-time to move Boro into the last 16.

Round four - Middlesbrough  0-0 Everton - win 5-4 on penalties

Quiz question: Can you name the five players who scored the penalties that secured Boro's passage into the last eight?

And can you name the one Everton player who missed?

The last 16 all-top flight clash went to spot-kicks after 120 goalless minutes.

Boro were the better of the two teams and carved out more than enough chances to prevent penalty drama, but Everton keeper Nigel Martyn was in inspired form. He was beaten five times in the shoot-out, though.

The scorers: Rickets, Zenden, Mills, Maccarone and Mendieta.

The decisive missed kick? Leon Osman's.

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Quarter-final - Tottenham 1-1 Middlesbrough (Ricketts, 86) - Boro win 5-4 on penalties

Michael Ricketts' time on Teesside isn't remembered particularly fondly but it was the striker who kept Boro's cup dream alive at White Hart Lane.

Just two minutes had passed when Darren Anderton put Tottenham ahead; just four minutes remained when Ricketts levelled.

"I'm delighted for him," said McClaren.

"He's got better with every game and anyone who has watched him has been very impressed and he did another very good job."

That assessment feels kind to say the least, for Ricketts had scored just once in 13 appearances prior to the quarter-final, but his role in Boro's cup success that season certainly shouldn't be forgotten.

He followed his Everton penalty with a successful spot-kick at Spurs and Mendieta once again had the chance to be the hero after Gus Poyet's effort had been saved.

Mendieta missed but so too did Mauricio Taricco, with Franck Queudrue stepping up to settle it.

"After going a goal down so early, we did so well to come back and dominate the second half and extra-time and, but for Kasey Keller, we would have won it before the penalties," said McClaren.

Tottenham boss David Pleat said: "I can't do anything about penalties as they're in the lap of the gods.

"They took an opportunity right at the death and scored.

"Everything is irritating when you lose, but we're out so it's now history."

Spurs were denied a North London semi-final against Arsenal; Boro rolled on.

Semi-finals first leg - Arsenal 0-1 Middlesbrough (Juninho, 53)

Four times in the space of a month Boro and Arsenal would meet and two of the encounters really didn't end well for Steve McClaren's side.

There was a 4-1 hammering in the league and a repeat in the FA Cup fourth round. But the two that truly mattered on Teesside went Boro's way.

The first leg was settled by Juninho and mention of his low driven winner into Graham Stack's far corner will bring to mind the sight of The Little Fella's jig of delight in the corner where the Boro fans were situated.

Arsene Wenger had stuck to his word and kept faith with the youthful side that had helped the Gunners into the last four, with Thierry Henry and Robert Pires among those missing.

Boro's experience told. "It was a good away performance," said McClaren.

That was an understatement. Perhaps he was trying to play down excitement, for Boro still had to take care of business in the second leg. McClaren's focus was on making sure the dressing room remained calm. There was nothing calm about the mood on Teesside, Boro was buzzing.

Semi-finals second leg - Middlesbrough 2-1 Arsenal (Zenden, 69, Reyes OG, 85)

"The atmosphere is one of feverish anticipation," said Sky's commentator as the players made their way out of the tunnel.

The decisive moment in the second leg came on the stroke of half-time when Martin Keown was sent off for a last man foul on Massimo Maccarone. Arsenal could have no complaints and a tough ask for the Gunners was made all the more difficult.

While the advantage was just a single goal, though, the Riverside would be nervous, but the anxiety was lifted thanks to an inch perfect Mendieta pass and sublime Bolo Zenden lob to break the deadlock.

The work wasn't done, with Edu levelling on the night, but an own-goal soon after from Jose Antonio Reyes booked Boro a place in the Cardiff final.

Final - Middlesbrough 2-1 Bolton (Job, 2, Zenden, 7)

The breathless beginning, the Zenden slip, the anguish and anxiety which followed Mark Schwarzer's fumble.

After a rollercoaster of a final came the whistle from Mike Riley that signified the end of Middlesbrough's long, long wait for silverware and the scenes that followed on the Millennium Stadium pitch live long in the memory for everyone associated with the club.

"My overriding memory from after the game was just making sure that Steve (Gibson) enjoyed it," Steve McClaren told the Northern Echo in an exclusive interview back in 2020.

"I’m delighted the enduring photograph is of him being lifted up with all the champagne spraying. It was a massive day for all of us, but he’d put his life and soul into the football club and I was really pleased that moment was about him."

On the day and on the pitch, jubilant captain Gareth Southgate said: "You only have to look behind me to see what it means to the people of Teesside. After more than 100 years of waiting we've done it for them."