Swansea City 1 Middlesbrough 0: Middlesbrough’s Wembley dream ends as Swansea profit from Hines own goal

The Swans reached only a third semi-final in top-flight cup competitions in their 100-year history thanks to an 81st-minute own goal from Boro’s Seb Hines.

Hines could not clear a Swansea corner as the Premier League side exerted sustained late pressure, and the ball flew off him and past Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele.

It put Swansea into the last four alongside Bradford and Aston Villa, while Chelsea meet Leeds United in the remaining quarter-final clash next week.

Middlesbrough gave as good as they got for most of a low-key contest in front of a 15,000 crowd, as both sides lacked a sharp attacking edge and laboured for long periods.

But the Swans eventually added Boro to their list of Capital One scalps this season alongside Liverpool, Barnsley and Crawley, while the visitors were left to reflect on what might have been following their 12th successive away League Cup fixture.

Boro, League Cup winners eight years ago, made a bright start as Grant Leadbitter went close with a 21st-minute effort that forced Swans goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel into a save low at his right post.

Nathan Dyer’s darting runs apart, Swansea produced little in the final third, much to manager Michael Laudrup’s growing frustration as he prowled his technical area.

Tremmel was then forced to react smartly to keep out a Leadbitter effort, and Boro boss Tony Mowbray was the far happier manager as half-time approached in a tie that never seriously threatened to move out of second gear.

Boro started the second half brightly, with Justin Hoyte peppering Tremmel’s goal from long range, and they continued to display greater energy, especially in the congested midfield area.

Substitute Luke Moore was immediately in the action, challenging Boro defender Andre Bikey just outside the visitors’ penalty area that ended with both players going down.

After Bikey’s exit, Swansea started to string some attacking phases together, and they went agonisingly close 15 minutes from time after Nicky Bailey was cautioned for bringing down Dyer.

Jonathan De Guzman took the resulting free-kick, and Steele palmed it on to the crossbar, keeping Boro level, although pressure continued to mount with Michu a consistent threat.

Referee Probert then waved away Swansea claims for a penalty when Hines challenged Ki, before the unfortunate Hines diverted the ball beyond Steele from a corner under pressure from Garry Monk as Swansea went ahead to ultimately secure a last-four place.