Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Chelsea - FOR most, Middlesbrough's clash with Chelsea at the Riverside on Saturday was regarded as another game in a season approaching its close.

Boro sit tenth in the Premiership while fifth-placed Chelsea's eyes are firmly fixed on this Saturday's FA Cup Final with Arsenal.

But for one footballer the clash meant much more than that.

The visit of Chelsea saw Colin Cooper play his first match for Boro on home soil for the first time since the tragic death of his two-year-old son Finlay.

And, in a touching moment when the centre-back's name was announced on the tannoy, the 35-year-old was given a heart-warming reception from the 28,000-plus fans.

Cooper has received messages from all over the world since Finlay choked on a toy on the same day as the Boro star helped his side to a shock 2-0 FA Cup win over Manchester United.

The former England international, who made a return to first team action at Ipswich last Wednesday, admitted that he came very close to ending his professional career after what happened on January 26.

"The reception I got off the supporters said it all," reflected Cooper. "And it shows why I made the right decision to continue playing.

"In fact the reception I've had since going back to training and the reception from the fans has been really touching.

"Straight after the accident I said that I wouldn't play again.

"It was just the way I felt and I didn't feel as though it mattered anymore. It didn't feel important, and that's probably the best way to put it.

"The biggest influence was my wife Julie. She said to me you can't walk away.

"She said 'we've known football as the best part of our married lives'.

"And for us to get back to any sense of normality she thought that I should come back to work and that's what I decided to do."

Before and after training Cooper visits the church-yard where Finlay has been rested.

And the former Millwall and Nottingham Forest man insists that he is now intending to go out and play for as long as he can.

"Sitting down with Julie helped because she pressed it home that I needed to get back," said Cooper. "Mainly because we have got three daughters and we have to provide a future for them.

"This is basically what I do. I'm 35 and I have a year left on my contract and I plan to play as long as I possibly can.

"I don't know what will happen in the future but certainly I want to play out the last year of my contract because my family deserve it."

Boro skipper Paul Ince is a close friend of Cooper and the midfielder had many kind words for his teammate.

"It's great for all the lads to see him back, more so for me because we're close," said Ince.

"To see him come back and concentrate on the Ipswich and Chelsea games after such a tragic accident is great for everyone and football."

Since returning to training Cooper, who was told to take as much time off as required by manager Steve McClaren, has found himself gradually coming to terms with his family loss.

And he said: "Ince put it into words really after Finlay's accident and told how the lads were feeling.

"I know that and I regard Ince as one of my best mates and I could get a feeling of how they were feeling.

"When I've been running around the football pitch I've found myself smiling from time to time, so that's probably helped in my decision.

"The players find it difficult to talk about certain things. You can see that they would like to say things but they don't know whether it would upset me.

"But I have stressed over the past couple of weeks that I don't mind talking about my son. If they feel like they want to talk about him I'm quite happy to do that."

There was a game on Saturday, which kicked off ten minutes late because a fire alarm sounded in the West Stand, and Boro lost 2-0.

And Cooper, in for Gareth Southgate who had a broken nose, would have been rewarded for his bravery with a goal had referee Barry Knight not ruled out his strike controversially.

The Boro stalwart converted a Benito Carbone cross after 18 minutes but Mr Knight pulled back play for what he thought was a push from Dean Windass - harsh to say the least.

That was one of the bright spots of an opening half hour that can only be described as an end of season stroll.

And that refereeing decision proved costly for Boro, who have now lost all three games since their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal, as Chelsea, hungry for a UEFA Cup spot, hit two goals in five minutes before half-time.

First 18-year-old Carlton Cole, who replaced top-scorer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the starting line-up after the Dutchman pulled up with a calf strain in the pre-match warm-up, superbly headed in an Emmanuel Petit free-kick.

Cole, making his first start for the Blues, had scored 27 goals in 24 games for the youth team this season and caused problems with his 6ft4in frame all afternoon.

And, as Boro pushed for a quick reply, Chelsea cemented victory with their second when Boudewijn Zenden scored.

Zenden, who chose the Blues ahead of Newcastle last summer, was allowed to run from inside his own half and his 20-yard shot was deflected off Cooper past Schwarzer.

McClaren brought on Stewart Downing, Michael Debeve and Szilard Nemeth for the second half but after withstanding a 15-minute Boro surge - with a bright Debeve going close - Chelsea held on to claim all the points.

But, while disappointed with a defeat on their last home game of the campaign, perhaps this was more a day to salute Cooper's touching return to action in front of his own fans.

Read more about Boro here.