Barnsley failed to recreate the magic of 2008 (just) as an FA Cup tie between Barnsley and Chelsea ended 1-0 for the second time but unfortunately it went the way of the Premier League rather than Championship outfit on this occasion.
Just like in 2008 when Kayode Odejayi netted the winner after 66 minutes, the deadlock was broken in the mid 60s in 2021 with Tammy Abraham scoring the winner after 64 minutes.
Indeed in the last four meetings between the clubs goals have been scored after 64, 66 and 65x2.
Since the famous Quarter-Final triumph 13 years ago Barnsley have faced Premier League sides on six occasions in the FA Cup including last night and been eliminated from the competition on each occasion (2008-2009, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2018-2019, 2020-2021) with an aggregate score of 2-16. Indeed they have only scored in one of those six matches (a 4-2 Third Round defeat to Swansea in 2011-2012)
This was Barnsley’s third FA Cup home tie in a row, the first time this has occurred in the same season since 2014-2015 (also 3)
One goal (from three games) is the least amount of goals the Reds have conceded in an FA Cup campaign in which they have played more than one tie since 1982-1983 (one goal from two games)
Tammy Abraham scored the all important goal, his second against Barnsley in 2020-2021 after netting in the League Cup meeting back in September and his fourth overall having also netted home and away against them for Bristol City in 2016-2017.
Chelsea have eliminated Barnsley from both the League Cup and FA Cup in 2020-2021, it is the first time they have exited both competitions at the hands of the same team since 1974-1975 when Halifax Town defeated them 1-0 in the League Cup First Round and then 2-1 in the FA Cup First Round.
This was the first time Chelsea have eliminated Barnsley from the FA Cup – at the third attempt after losing 4-0 in the Third Round of 1988-1989 and of course 1-0 in the Quarter Final of 2007-2008.
The Blues have now advanced in three of the five cup ties the two sides have faced having won 6-0 in the League Cup this season and 2-1 in the Simod Cup in 1987-1988.
In all competitions, Chelsea have now won five of the last six meetings with Barnsley’s only two wins in the last 11 coming in the FA Cup.
Chelsea have also kept clean sheets in four of the last five meetings, scoring 15 times themselves.
Barnsley have failed to win any of their last five matches played on a Thursday (D1 L4) their last Thursday victory came in the second leg of the League One Play-Off Semi-Finals at Walsall in May 2016.
After scoring in 11 of Valerian Ismael’s first 15 games up to the end of 2020, they have now failed to score in five of the eight in 2021.
They have gone back to back games without scoring for the second time in 2021, prior to this their last successive blank was in September and also involved Chelsea when they went three games without scoring against Reading, Chelsea and Coventry.
Chelsea had 72% ball possession, the most by a Barnsley opponent since Chelsea’s fellow London Premier League rivals Tottenham had 73% in a League Cup tie in September 2017- another game Barnsley lost 1-0.
It is though the third time this season an opponent has enjoyed at least 70% possession against Barnsley (also Derby 71% and Norwich 71%) – however Barnsley won both those games.
Chelsea’s goal came from their only shot on target, the fourth time this season Barnsley have conceded a goal from their opponent’s only on target effort – also v Luton, Birmingham and Huddersfield.
There were only 14 fouls in the game, the second lowest amount in a Barnsley game this season following the 11 in…..the League Cup tie at Chelsea.
Barnsley Team:
40. Brad Collins
20. Toby Sibbick
30. Michal Helik
6. Mads Andersen
7. Callum Brittain
8. Herbie Kane
27. Alex Mowatt
4. Callum Styles
29. Victor Adeboyejo
9. Cauley Woodrow
11. Conor Chaplin
Substitutes:
28. Dominik Frieser (for Chaplin 59)
10. Daryl Dike (for Adeboyejo 59)
2. Jordan Williams (for Brittain 73)
21. Romal Palmer (for Kane 73)
26. Michael Sollbauer (for Sibbick 76)
Unused Substitutes:
1. Jack Walton, 22. Clarke Oduor, 34. Jasper Moon, 46. Cameron Thompson.
Chelsea Team:
1.Kepa Arrizabalaga
4. Andreas Christensen
15. Kurt Zouma
33. Emerson
20. Callum Hudson-Odoi
7. N’Golo Kanté
23. Billy Gilmour
3. Marcos Alonso
22. Hakim Ziyech
9. Tammy Abraham
10. Christian Pulisic
Substitutions:
2. Antonio Rüdiger (for Christensen 45)
24. Reece James (for Alonso 45)
55. Faustino Anjorin (for Ziyech 69)
17. Mateo Kovacic (for Pulisic 80)
Unused Substitutes:
13. Willy Caballero, 18. Olivier Giroud, 21. Ben Chilwell, 28. Cesar Azpilicueta, 54. Lewis Bate.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said:
"We scored the goal and I had the feeling that they increased the risk, but we stepped down in the little decisions,"
"Not enough courage and it was too deep for a long, long time. We clearly can play better, so yes I expected more but not in terms that I am frustrated.”
"We can do better but I don't want to be too hard on the players."
FA Cup Fifth Round results
TUESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2021
Burnley 0-2 AFC Bournemouth
Surridge 21
Stanislas pen 88
Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United (AET)
McTominay 97
WEDNESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2021
Swansea City 1-3 Manchester City
Walker 30
Sterling 47
Gabriel 50
Whittaker 77
Leicester City 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Iheanacho 90+4
Sheffield United 1-0 Bristol City
Sharp pen 66
Everton 5-4 Tottenham Hotspur
Sanchez 3
Calvert-Lewin 36
Richarlison 38
Sigurdsson pen 43
Lamela 45+3
Sanchez 57
Richarlison 68
Kane 83
Bernard 97
THURSDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2021
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–2 Southampton
Ings 49
Armstrong 90
Barnsley 0-1 Chelsea
Abraham 64
Next Up:
On The Road:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Twenty Eight: Brentford v Barnsley, Sunday 14th February 2021. Kick-Off: 1pm
At Oakwell:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Twenty Nine: Barnsley v Blackburn Rovers, Wednesday 17th February 2021. Kick-Off: 7:45pm