FA Cup Quarter-Final: Barnsley v Chelsea

Early Reds Team News

Long term injury absentees Heinz Muller and Anderson De Silva remain sidelined for the visit of FA Cup holders Chelsea at a sold out Oakwell. Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Macken are both cup-tied. Rob Kozluk is likely to come back in at right back to allow Stephen Foster to partner Dennis Souza at centre-back. Bobby Hassell will continue in defensive midfield whilst Daniel Nardiello or Istvan Ferenczi could partner Kayode Odejayi upfront.

Likely Line-Up:

Luke Steele

Marciano Van Homoet

Stephen Foster

Dennis Souza

Rob Kozluk

Jamal Campbell-Ryce

Brian Howard ©

Bobby Hassell

Diego Leon/ Martin Devaney

Kayode Odejayi

Daniel Nardiello

Barnsley and Chelsea have only met once before in the FA Cup, and that came at Oakwell in January 1989 when The Reds thumped then Second Division Chelsea 4-0! Gwyn Thomas, Steve Agnew (2) and David Currie got the goals on that famous day in the Third Round. The Reds reached the Fifth Round that year where they faced a team from Merseyside (like they did in the Fifth Round this year) but lost 1-0 at home to Everton. Chelsea put their cup disappointment behind them by romping to the Second Division title gaining 99points. Barnsley finished 7^th, an agonising two points off the play-offs. That result though is the only Barnsley victory against Chelsea in the last seven meetings. The last time the Blues were at Oakwell they won 6-0 in August 1997 when The Reds Premier League adventure suffered its first pounding. Gianluca Vialli helped himself to four goals whilst Dan Petrescu and Gus Poyet grabbed the others.

The last time Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower league opponent was in the 1994-1995 season when Millwall, then 11th in Division One defeated The Blues 5-4 on penalties in a Fourth Round Replay. You have to go back to the pre Premier League days of 1991-1992 for the last time Chelsea were knocked out by lower league opposition in normal time. Sunderland then 16th in the Second Division won 2-1 in a Quarter-Final Replay.

Chelsea have won 10 of their last 11 FA Cup ties. Tottenham held them to a draw in the other one but Chelsea won the replay.

Last 6 Barnsley v Chelsea Results:

31/1/98 Chelsea 2-0 Barnsley (Premier League)

24/8/97 Barnsley 0-6 Chelsea (Premier League)

1/4/89 Chelsea 5-3 Barnsley (Second Division)

7/1/89 Barnsley 4-0 Chelsea (FA Cup)

17/9/88 Barnsley 1-1 Chelsea (Second Division)

7/5/84 Chelsea 3-1 Barnsley (Second Division)

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 10

Chelsea Wins: 16

Draws: 5

Barnsley Goals: 46

Chelsea Goals: 60

Chelsea have never been far away from the news this season. In September they sacked their most successful manager in 50 years- Jose Mourinho and replaced him with little know Israeli Avram Grant. Despite sitting seven points off Premier League leaders Arsenal, Grant hasn't done a bad job. He has won 26 of his 37 games in charge and has only lost three. One of those defeats though was in the Carling Cup Final, 2-1 to Tottenham on the 24^th February in which Grant was heavily criticised for his team selection. Its not all bad though, the Blues beat Olympiakos 3-0 on Wednesday to move into the Champions League Quarter-Finals and they are unbeaten in their last ten FA Cup games. They won the cup for the fourth time last season when a Didier Drogba goal secured a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Wembley. The last time Chelsea were knocked out at this stage was in 2002-2003 by Arsenal but they failed to get past the Fifth Round in the subsequent two seasons. The Blues have reached the Final and Semi-Final in the past two seasons.

This is the furthest Barnsley have been in the FA Cup since 1999, but have lost just twice at Oakwell this season. Barnsley's last victory in any competition was the 2-1 win at Liverpool in the last round.

Last 6 2007-2008 Results:

Barnsley:

12/2/08 Plymouth 3-0 Barnsley (Championship)

16/2/08 Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley (FA Cup)

23/2/08 Norwich 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)

26/2/08 Barnsley 0-0 QPR (Championship)

1/3/08 Barnsley 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)

4/3/08 Blackpool 1-1 Barnsley (Championship)

W:1 D:3 L:2 F:3 A:6 GD:-3 Points:3

Chelsea:

5/3/08 Chelsea 3-0 Olympiakos (Champions League)

1/3/08 West Ham 0-4 Chelsea (Premier League)

24/2/08 Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea (Carling Cup Final)

19/2/08 Olympiakos 0-0 Chelsea (Champions League)

16/2/08 Chelsea 3-1 Huddersfield (FA Cup)

10/2/08 Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool (Premier League)

W:3 D:2 L:1 F:11 A:3 GD:+8 Points: 4

Barnsley lie 16^th in the Coca-Cola Championship with 43 points from 36 games.

Chelsea lie 3^rd in the FA Barclays Premier League with 58 points from 27 games.

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