This is the first ever competitive meeting between Exeter City and Middlesbrough. It’s the first time two sides will meet in their first ever competitive game in the League Cup fourth round since Aldershot Town against Man Utd in October 2011.
Middlesbrough have won away from home in each round of the League Cup this season, eliminating Huddersfield, Bolton and Bradford. The last team to progress to the quarterfinal after away ties from rounds one to four were Sunderland in 2021-22, and before that was Middlesbrough in 2012-13.
Exeter City have reached the League Cup fourth round for a fifth time but have been eliminated at this stage on the previous four occasions in 1973-74, 1978-79, 1979-80 and 1989-90.
Middlesbrough have progressed from four of their last five League Cup fourth round ties, most recently in 2018-19 against Crystal Palace. This is their first as a side from a higher division than their opponents since 2005-06, a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace.
Having knocked out Premier League side Luton in the third round, Exeter are looking to eliminate two different sides from a higher division in a single League Cup campaign for the first time since 1989-90, when they knocked out Swansea, Blackburn and Blackpool.