Wednesday football as it happened

That is your lot from tonight's cup-centric text commentary. It didn't quite continue the proud tradition of supreme League Cup entertainment but then we can't go expecting quality every time. For Swansea and Mansfield, though, tonight has been just grand. I'll be back on Saturday to text commentate on more football. I'll see thee.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray: "I thought it was a tight game that could have gone either way. On the count of chances I think we had the better of it, but that's football. We didn't allow Swansea to play their open, expansive play, and stifled them really well. The nature of the goal was cruel - sometimes you don't mind losing to a good piece of play. Disappointing for us, but on another day in games like that we will come out on top. We have come to a team sitting in the top half of the Premier League and given a really good account of ourselves."

Swansea defender Gary Monk: "We knew how much was at stake for both teams. At this stage of the competition you start to dream but it was a tough game tonight against Middlesbrough. This is a good Boro side who are doing very well in the Championship. We knew it was going to be tough - they are very organised and have quality. So we knew it would come down to one or two chances and in the end we managed to grind it out. All credit to Middlesbrough, they gave us a good test, but thankfully we are the ones with the win. We're not yet thinking we're going to win this - we are just really thankful we are in the final."

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup: "It was a very important victory and now we're in the last four and the semi-finals. It was nice to see that goal go in after 81 minutes. I was a very tight game tonight and we suffered in the first half because Middlesbrough did very well. They are a good side, and we may be playing them next year in the Premier League. In the second half we came out and dominated like we normally do at home. But let's see what happens now in this competition. There will be three other teams through and I watched the game last night. It was a fantastic cup game. It had lots of emotion, 120 minutes and penalties. That can happen sometimes in these competitions. That's what makes it fun to play these cup games."

We have three of our four Capital One Cup semi-finalists nailed down in the shape of Aston Villa, Bradford and Swansea. Three will become four on the 19th of December when Leeds take on Chelsea at Elland Road, after Rafa Benitez's side have concluded their Club World Cup business in Japan.

Also before tonight's Capital One Cup semi, Boro boss Tony Mowbray had this to say: "Whilst it's nice to have a run in a cup competition, get the plaudits and potentially get to a semi-final, televised games and heighten the profile of your club, the bottom line come May is, if you don't finish in the top two or the top six, giving yourselves a chance, it's a wasted season. For the club, the ambition we have got is to try to get back there as quickly as we can."

You suspect his message to his players will be clear - 'dust yourselves off and use this disappointment to fuel your promotion charge.'

Before tonight's game in Wales, Swansea manager Michael Laudrup had this to say: "I've always liked cups because when you're in a team that can't compete for the Champions League or title it's a way to success. It's a potential semi-final we're talking about. We're into the dreams of playing a final at Wembley and we have to do everything to get there."

Well, his side didn't exactly do everything tonight but they did enough. They have as good a chance as anyone to win this competition now and claim what would be their first major cup in their 100-year history. That wouldn't be the worst way for Laudrup to mark his first season at the club.

The victory celebrations were much more muted in Swansea, where the home fans perhaps recognise they got away with a poor display. Still, in cup football the win is all that matters. Boro will not only be gutted to have lost but also at the fact they had their chances to win this tie.

BBC Scotland's Alasdair Lamont at Gayfield, Arbroath: "Full time Arbroath 0-1 Celtic. The Second Division side will take huge plaudits for the way they performed, rarely allowing Celtic to relax. Indeed the SPL champions were being instructed to take the ball into the corner by Neil Lennon by the end, such was the discomfort being felt by the visitors. But it is Celtic who progress. Will Raith Rovers pose them as stern a test in the next round?"

Wild scenes at Mansfield, where the Town fans are on the pitch to hug their victorious heroes. Up in the stands, chief executive Carolyn Still and chairman John Radford dance around with glee. It's Liverpool next for the Stags. I'm not surprised they're chuffed.

Added time is up at Mansfield. Town look to be heading for a third-round tie against Liverpool.

The game has ended in Scotland, with Celtic beating Abroath 1-0 thanks to Adam Matthews first-half goal.

There are three minutes of injury time to be played at Mansfield. Town lead Lincoln 2-1 with a minute of that gone.

Middlesbrough so close to levelling in the final minute of added time in Wales. Ishmael Miller's cross from the left flashes across goal and just evades the sliding Scott McDonald at the back post.

Middlesbrough are pushing hard for an equaliser in Wales but Swansea are holding them at bay. Andy Halliday has a chance to deliver but his cross hits the first man and the home side clear. Down the other end, Luke Moore has a sight of goal but slices his shot wide from 12 yards.

Swansea have five added minutes to hold on against Boro and reach their first ever League Cup semi-final.

There is just over a minute to go in Wales. There will be some injury time, though, for Boro to use following a bit of treatment for home keeper Gerhard Tremmel.

George Friend nearly drags Boro back into the tie in Wales. His long-range shot takes a deflection and nearly finds the top corner before Gerhard Tremmel tips the ball behind. From the corner, Friend rises but heads the ball over the bar.

Well, Middlesbrough and Lincoln have got to dig deep now. They are facing elimination from the League and FA Cup respectively square in the face.

A chance at Field Mill as a free-kick is swung into the Lincoln box and giant Stags substitute Matthew Rhead climbs above the home defence but cannot keep his header on target. Up at the other end, Jamie Taylor scuffs a header after getting the better of his marker. Still 1-1 in this FA Cup tie.

Is that a penalty for Swansea. Ki Sung-Yueng is felled in the box by a sliding Seb Hines and it would not have surprised me one bit if Lee Probert had pointed to the spot. He didn't, though.

15 minutes to go in Wales and what has, in truth, been a pretty dour cup tie is looking like it might actually build to an exciting finish. At least I hope it will. A Swansea attack sees Luke Moore try to find Michu in the box but the ball is just too heavy and the chance is gone.

Luke Moore has made a bit of a difference for Swansea. He certainly looks more lively. However, he cannot fashion anything from a decent opening in the Boro box but his shot is blocked by Justin Hoyte. Soon after, the home side force a corner when Michu's shot at the near post is blocked but Seb Hines heads it away.

Huge appeal from Lincoln for a penalty at Mansfield. Jamie Taylor rises to meet a cross at the back post but while his effort is saved he feels he is fouled in attempting to latch on to a follow-up. The referee doesn't.

We're midway through the second half at the Liberty Stadium. Jonathan de Guzman has a shot from 22 yards for the home side but he doesn't catch it and Jason Steele has an easy save to make.

That is much better from Swansea. Leon Britton combines well with Ben Davies down the left to force a corner. Boro have to make a couple of changes before the corner with Faris Haroun limping off to be replaced by Richard Smallwood and Andy Halliday on for Andre Bikey. Swansea also make a substitution with Ki-Sung Yueng on for Wayne Routledge. Eventually, the home side swing over the corner but Nicky Bailey heads away.

Middlesbrough's Lukas Jutkiewicz gets ahead of Garry Monk in the box to reach an Emmanuel Ledesma cross but his header drifts over the bar.

Referee Lee Probert has a big call to make at the Liberty Stadium as Luke Moore looks to latch on to a Michu header to go clear on goal and tumbles to the ground in a challenge with Andre Bikey. Probert rejects home calls for a foul and his decision looks correct as Moore was pulling at Bikey.

Grant Leadbitter has had a few efforts from range for Middlesbrough and he tries again with a dipping shot from 22 yards but Gerhard Tremmel is behind it and saves. Soon after, Emmanuel Ledesma's cross just drifts past Lukas Jutkiewicz at the back post.

BBC Scotland's Alasdair Lamont at Gayfield, Arbroath: "The fare on the park here has been decent but it pales in comparison to the off-field hospitality. The Arbroath Smokie quiche was a particular delight."

A great save from Lincoln's Paul Farman keeps it at 1-1 in the FA Cup tie. Chris Clement's corner is met by John Dempster but Farman drops down low to tip the ball away. Soon after, Dempster meets another cross - this time from the right - but heads wide.

That was a chance for Swansea as a cross is swung over from the left but Itay Shechter's control in the box is poor and Middlesbrough clear.

It remains a messy performance from Swansea. No sign that Michael Laudrup's half-time team-talk has had any effect on his side.

Swansea respond by forcing a corner of their own. Jonathan de Guzman delivers but Justin Hoyte volleys away at the near post.

Middlesbrough have the first attack of the second half and Scott McDonald does well to win a corner. However, Gerhard Tremmel does well to punch the delivery away from danger.

Barcelona have scored again. Guess who scored it? Yep, Lionel Messi. He has now scored 88 for the year and 12 in his last seven games. I'm not even amazed anymore. I'm starting to see this as par for the course.

BBC Scotland's Alasdair Lamont at Gayfield, Arbroath: "Arbroath competing well with their illustrious visitors, without being able to test Fraser Forster. Celtic look pretty comfortable, but as the old cliche goes, a one-goal lead is a precarious one. Lassad is not remotely impressive it has to be said. The goal that separates the sides was hugely impressive, a real rocket from Matthews."

So, two English cup ties reach half-time and you'd be hard-pressed to choose a winner from either. Swansea have been dire, with Middlesbrough creating by far the better chances. The only worry for Tony Mowbray's side is that they have not carved out a lead when they were on top. Meanwhile, in Mansfield, it is everything you'd expect from a second-round replay with a tie against Liverpool the reward.

Lincoln have a half-chance late in the first half at Mansfield but Jamie Taylor cannot steer his header on target from a cross from the right.

Swansea look to hit Middlesbrough before half-time as Ben Davies charges forward down the left before finding Michu with a square ball. The Spaniard's shot from range is blocked, though. Two subsequent home corners come to nothing.

More pressure from Mansfield at Field Mill, this time John Dempster latches on to another long throw and heads goalwards but his effort is blocked close to the line. It remains Mansfield 1-0 Lincoln in this FA Cup second-round replay.

Just under 10 minutes to go in the first half in Wales. You can only imagine Swansea will be better in the second half than they have been in the first. They could hardly be any worse.

Swansea final muster a good effort on goal as Ben Davies' cross from the left is met by the head of Leon Britton. A deflection off Nathan Dyer almost wrong-foots Jason Steele but the keeper readjusts to save. Soon after, Boro's Grant Leadbitter hammers a shot on goal from the edge of the box which Gerhard Tremmel palms away.

With nearly 30 minutes gone in Mansfield it remains 1-0 to the home side against Lincoln. Town come close to making it 2-0 as Ben Hutchinson's close range shot draws a good save from Paul Farman, who gets up quickly to claw away Louis Briscoe's follow-up - possibly from an offside position - with a strong left hand. Cracking keeping.

Middlesbrough are soaking up what little Swansea have offered so far and hitting effectively. Michu's pass for Nathan Dyer is cut out by Boro and the ball is fed left for George Friend, but after driving into home territory his cross is cut out by Garry Monk.

BBC Scotland's Alasdair Lamont at Gayfield, Arbroath: "The Celtic fans are in boisterous good spirits behind Fraser Forster's goal in Arbroath. Not so sure the local constabulary are loving the smoke bombs, but things are going well for their team on the park. They're in total control thanks to that scorcher from Adam Matthews."

That is some shank from Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Ledesma, who has the ball wide right but smashes an effort over for a throw-in on the left touchline. "It was a cross lads. Honest."

Swansea are struggling to get anything going so far. Their disjointed opening 25 minutes is summed up when Chico Flores smashes a cross-field pass, designed for Dwight Tiendalli, straight out of play.

Middlesbrough come close to the first goal in Wales as BBC Sport's new Friend, George, breaks down the left and into the box before pulling back for Grant Leadbitter to side-foot a shot that has Gerhard Tremmel scrambling to save.

Barcelona are currently playing in the last-16 of the Copa del Rey away at Cordoba, and that man Lionel Messi is at it again. The Argentine's effort goes in off the crossbar to make it 87 goals in 2012. Against Real Betis on Sunday the 25-year-old broke Gerd Mueller's phenomenal 40-year-old record of 85 goals for club and country in a calendar year.

Meanwhile, in Wales, Nicky Bailey has a pop from range for Middlesbrough but his effort drifts harmlessly over the bar.

Little goalmouth action to report from the Liberty Stadium. Swansea are dominating possession but Middlesbrough are holding firm to prevent them making any progress.

This is bad news for Mansfield. Exodus Geohaghon looks to have had his wings clipped with the referee insisting that all towels be removed from pitch-side. Still, if he doesn't know where his throws are going, neither do Lincoln.

Exodus Geohaghon is into the action again in Mansfield to sling the ball into the box but Lincoln keeper Paul Farman comes out to catch. On the break, Lincoln's Adam Smith floats a cross from deep straight into Alan Marriott's hands.

It has been a somewhat quiet start at the Liberty Stadium. The away side have done well so far. A ball is floated over Garry Monk's head for Lukas Jutkiewicz to dive in and head on goal but Gerhard Tremmel has a comfortable catch.

Some team news for you from the FA Cup tie. Mansfield are unchanged from Saturday's 4-1 home win over Ebbsfleet. That is also the same team which started the 3-3 draw with Lincoln in the first meeting between these two sides at Sincil Bank 11 days ago.

Lincoln, who sit two places behind eighth-placed Mansfield in the Blue Square Bet Premier table, made eight changes for Saturday's 4-2 win at Dartford. But David Holdsworth has recalled all eight players tonight, meaning that weekend hat-trick hero Colin Larkin drops back to the bench.

Exodus Geohaghon is going to cause some problems for Lincoln. The defender's long throw is some weapon. He hurls one into the box but a team-mate in the box is unable to keep his header down.

Swansea's first prolonged period of possession sees them move the ball around well in the Middlesbrough half before Michu tries a shot that is blocked by a Boro body before Wayne Routledge's follow-up effort is also prevented from challenging Jason Steele.

The Middlesbrough fans who have made the journey to Wales are in good voice. Their team has made a decent start. They come forward again but Emmanuel Ledesma's control lets him down on the right and the move breaks down.

Middlesbrough start on the front foot and Grant Leadbitter has an early chance from a header down in the box but a Swansea defender comes across and denies him the opportunity to shoot.

Lincoln City chairman Bob Dorrian and Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox are desperately hoping they can negotiate their FA Cup replay tonight to set up a dream FA Cup third-round tie with Liverpool. Cox said the fixture could be "one of the biggest in the club's history", while Dorrian says the tie would clear the cash-strapped Imps' debts.

That game will be kicking off in a few minutes time along with the match in Swansea and the Scottish Cup tie in Abroath, which you can follow via a separate text commentary.

You may have noticed George Friend in the Middlesbrough side tonight. Well, George will be making his debut as a writer on the BBC Sport website on Friday with a piece giving insight into Middlesbrough's successful season so far.

Still, at least the Middlesbrough fans will have some company in the stands tonight, unlike one Udinese fan during his team's match at Sampdoria. Arrigo Brovedani was Udinese's sole supporter in Genoa for a Serie A match. Still at least they won 2-0. Plus, the Sampdoria stewards gave him coffee and home fans invited him for a drink after the match.

Some of you may be aware (the Middlesbrough fans certainly will) that Tony Mowbray's side have done more travelling than the Littlest Hobo during their last few League Cup campaigns. Tonight's game in Swansea represents the 12th successive time Boro have been drawn away from home in the competition.

Fans attending all 12 of these games will have clocked up almost 3,500 miles since their last home tie in August 2008 and so in recognition of their efforts those supporters travelling to south Wales from Middlesbrough have had their travel paid for by the League Cup's sponsors and the club. Merry Christmas.

As mentioned earlier in this commentary, Swansea won their previous meeting with Boro 4-3 in February 2011. They had trailed the Championship encounter 3-1 with little over 30 minutes remaining. Middlesbrough's last win over the Swans was a 3-0 away triumph in August 2009. They have never met before in the League Cup.

Tony Mowbray's side will need to be sharp at the back tonight. Swansea have scored three goals in each of their three ties in this cup run: 3-1 at home to Barnsley, 3-2 at Crawley and 3-1 away to Liverpool.

For those not in the League Cup know, allow me to explain just why it is so open this year. Basically, it is down to the absence of most of the big hitters. Aston Villa are the biggest team through to the semis - after their 4-1 win at Norwich last night - but they are hardly having a stellar season. They will line up along with League Two Bradford and the winner of tonight's match. Potentially the biggest team in the last four could be Chelsea but they will not play their quarter-final until the 19th because of Club World Cup commitments and even then will be given a test by Championship side Leeds, who have already knocked out two Premier League sides this season.

You can also relive the Bradford v Arsenal game through the medium of numbers. For example, did you know that Arsenal's starting XI had 399 international caps between them? And the cost of Bradford's team in transfer fees was just £7,500?

BBC Scotland's Alasdair Lamont at Gayfield, Arbroath: "Pah! So much for the infamous wind that blows in off the North Sea here. Not so much as a flicker of a breeze far less a gale at Gayfield tonight. It's not exactly tropical, mind. Georgios Samaras came out for his pre-match walkabout with the biggest muffler I've ever seen. Anyway, there's a wee frost beginning to take hold on the pitch, but it'll be fine once the players get running on it. Celtic have named a strong side for the replay, looking to ensure there is no cup shock. Plenty of experience in the home ranks, with player-manager Paul Sheerin starting along with Alex Keddie and Brian Kerr."

Simon is not wrong about the up-for-grabs nature of this season's League Cup. This was fully illustrated last night when League Two Bradford dumped a very strong Arsenal side out of the competition. If you want to relive it through the medium of words you can via a report on this site.

If your computer or mobile haven't frozen up maybe you'd like to get in touch with us to comment on tonight's football action? For those of you wanting to text the number is 81111 (UK only) and for the tweeters among you the hashtag you need to be using is #bbcfootball. Get involved.

Last, but certainly not least, on the menu for tonight is a cup tie from Scotland as SPL leaders Celtic travel to Second Division Abroath for a fourth-round replay. Paul Sheerin's side will be hoping to go one better than their impressive 1-1 draw in Glasgow 11 days ago.

There should have been three Scottish Cup replays tonight but the pesky cold weather has halted any hopes of action from Dumbarton v Hamilton and Cowdenbeath v St Johnstone.

Originally, we were also supposed to have two FA Cup second round replays tonight but the frost has put paid to that plan with Oxford v Accrington Stanley falling foul of the cold conditions. However, thanks to an inflatable cover over Field Mill and hot air being blown onto the playing surface, the game between Mansfield and Lincoln is (as far as I know) going ahead. The victors will host seven-times winners Liverpool in the third round.

Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Fulham, Stoke 3-4 Swindon, Leeds 2-1 Everton, Leeds 3-0 Southampton, Bradford 1-1 Arsenal (3-2 on pens). These are just a small selection of upsets from this season's Capital One Cup that Middlesbrough can use as inspiration for tonight's trip to Swansea.

Middlesbrough (third in the Championship) will start as underdogs for the match against the Premier League's eighth-placed side. But that is no reason for Tony Mowbray's men to be fearful. After all, they have overcome the odds already in this season's competition. Just ask Sunderland.

I'm really going to miss this season's League Cup when it finishes. In an era when unsavoury off-the-field incidents dominate the headlines, English football's secondary cup competition has repeatedly reminded us, round after round, just why we all love this beautiful sport.

Tonight, the entertainment continues as Championship side Middlesbrough make the long journey to south Wales to face Premier League Swansea.