FA Cup Fifth Round: Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley!!!!

Barnsley don't do cup upsets. Barnsley don't do away wins. Barnsley don't come from behind to win. Barnsley don't get last minute winners,

But Barnsley did all those to cause the biggest FA Cup upset in recent years and inflict on Liverpool's only their second home defeat of the season.

After conceding seven goals without reply in the last two trips on the road Anfield seemed all the more daunting on a sunny afternoon on Merseyside.

With Liverpool having an indifferent season (by their standards anyway) manager Rafael Benitez fielded a strong side (missing only Jose Reina, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres) as Liverpool went chasing for one of only two trophies left open to them this season.

Barnsley meanwhile had 23 year old debutant Luke Steele in net. Third choice at West Brom.. only two starts this season (albeit both wins) and he kept his winning run this season going with a fairytale performance that often defied belief.

6,000 Barnsley fans converged on Anfield with 3,000 more watching on the live screen back at Oakwell. Not one was disappointed.

This was better than most of our home displays this season… it was certainly better than our performances on the road.

Steele was simply immense pulling off at least SIX world class save to frustrate the seven times FA Cup winners.

He produced his first stop on 18 minutes when he did well to claw England striker Peter Crouch's effort away but The Reds should have been in front 10 minutes later.

Finnish veteran Sami Hyypia was caught in possession by Danny Nardiello and the loan marksman raced towards goal but saw his effort parried by second choice Liverpool keeper Charles Itandje.

Steele then excelled himself again moments later. Xabi Alonso found time on the edge of the box to curl a great effort, which Steele at full stretch somehow tipped wide.

Liverpool's goal duly arrived on 32 minutes. Ryan Babel danced his way past Bobby Hassell before squaring the ball to an unmarked Dirk Kuyt and there was nothing Steele could do to stop the Dutch international stabbing home.

From then on though a Barnsley defence that has conceded 49 Championship goals this season was tremendous. Hassell was on Babel at every opportunity whilst Crouch, despite being 6ft 7 had to resort to sly fouling tactics to get the better of Stephen Foster and Dennis Souza. Unfortunately a very poor referee- Martin Atkinson- failed to spot or stop it.

Crouch did legally get his head to a Steve Finnan cross at the end of the first half but again Steele made a super stop.

Buoyed by a decent first half showing Barnsley set about having a real go in the second period and how!

Foster managed to divert a Babel cross away on 50 minutes but six minutes later he appeared at the other end of the pitch to score a shock equaliser.

Martin Devaney delivered a superb right wing cross in front of the Kop and Foster got up above Liverpool skipper Jamie Carragher to bullet a header that Itandje could only help into the net.

Barnsley had scored against Premier League opposition for only the second time in seven years (the other previous goal was in a 7-1 hammering at Manchester City)

But The Reds had the biggest let off of the afternoon almost straight from the restart.

Yossi Benayoun nipped round Steele but his effort was blocked on the line by a combination of Foster and Kozluk. The ball broke to Kuyt but Kozluk somehow denied him too. At that moment you suddenly dared to dream.

Hyypia forced two more blinding saves from Steele whilst Benayoun cut in and forced the ex Manchester United youngster to beat his effort around the post.

Barnsley were denied their first stonewall penalty on 75 minutes. Substitute Kayode Odejayi raced onto a long ball and was practically flattened by Itandje as they both went for the ball. But unsurprisingly in front of the Kop, Atkinson waved play on.

The cavalry arrived in the form of Steven Gerrard and within seconds the England midfielder waltzed past four challenges but found his team-mates way behind his wavelength.

The Reds got closer to an unlikely winner four minutes later when Howard's stinger from 25 yards was palmed away by Itandje.

Harry Kewell thought he had won it for Liverpool with six minutes remaining when the Australian hit a brilliant dipping volley that finally beat Steele but clipped the top of the crossbar but Steele was back in the spotlight as he denied Kuyt again whilst Hassell just managed to turn the rebound over the bar with Crouch lurking.

The fourth official's board went up to signal 3 additional minutes. Barnsley could almost taste that Oakwell replay.

And then as the clock hit 92 minutes and 10 seconds, Howard turned Hyypia in the area and was literally yanked to the floor by his leg. The most clear cut penalty you could ever see in your life and outrageously Atkinson said no! (Something Matt Le Tissier labelled a "disgrace" on Gillette Soccer Saturday.

It needn't have mattered. As the ball broke to Hassell he whipped in a cross that Carragher only headed out as far as Howard and the skipper, nipped around Alonso before hitting a sweet, sweet strike inside the near post.

6,000 people in the Anfield Road End went berserk! It is a day that shall never ever be forgotten. A day that will go down in history! Barnsley Football Club are in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals and just ONE game away from Wembley!

Player Ratings:

Luke Steele: Can anybody have had a better debut? Pulled off six or seven stunning saves to keep Liverpool out. Thomas Sorewhatshisname? Sign this kid up! 10

Bobby Hassell: Was never going to have Babel for pace but he never stopped tracking him. Was beaten just the once which led to the goal. 9

Stephen Foster: Immense at both ends of the pitch. A wonderful header for the shock equaliser and put his body on the line in the second half. 9

Dennis Souza: A mountain when he plays like this. Hoofed the ball when it needed hoofing and calmly passed it out when the game needed slowing down. Looked cultured and comfortable. 9

Rob Kozluk: An heroic challenge denied Kuyt almost instantly after the equaliser. Forced off with a thigh strain but another excellent display. Subbed. 9

Martin Devaney: Delivered a Premier League style cross for Foster to head home the equaliser and was always looking to run at Riise and pen him back. 8

Brian Howard: Sheesh. What can you say? Absolute crap for the past two months and then at Anfield against Liverpool he puts in a performance like that. At the heart of everything going forward and then had the stage set for an injury time winner. Keep it up Brian, I mean it! 9

Anderson De Silva: Mocked in the Matchday programme as having the joint shortest Everton career of two minutes but he looked better than many Liverpool players today. So at ease on the ball and beat his man every time. Alonso didn't't have a clue. 9

Diego Leon: Showed his talent in spells but always moving and always a threat when on the ball. Produced one great challenge on Kuyt in the area. Subbed. 8

Daniel Nardiello: If I have to pick a dud it would be him. Had Barnsley's best chance in the first half. But seems to just stand and wait for the ball rather than go chasing after it. Odejayi looked a lot better when he replaced him. Subbed. 7

Istvan Ferenczi: Excellent in the air and didn't't give Carragher or Hyypia a moments piece. Harshly pulled up for fouls. 8

Substitutes:

Kayode Odejayi (for Nardiello 55) Constantly harassed the Liverpool defence who were extremely uncomfortable with his presence. Denied a clear penalty when flattened by Itandje. 8

Marciano Van Homoet (for Kozluk 60) Calm and collected on the ball. Also linked up well with Campbell-Ryce on the overlap. Booked. 7

Jamal Campbell-Ryce (for Leon 71) Just what Hyypia didn't't want to see. Pace. His runs down the wing relived a lot of pressure. 7

Unused Substitutes:

Sam Togwell, Michael Coulson.

BarnsleyBoy's Man of the Match: Luke Steele: What a debut. Was on a one man mission to keep Liverpool out! Outstanding!

Ref Watch: Martin Atkinson: Bottled it on the big stage by denying Barnsley two clear cut penalties. 2

Other Reports:

FootyMad

Official Website

BBC

Sky Sports

FA Cup Sponsored by E.On Fifth Round Results: Saturday 16^{th February 2008:}

Bristol Rovers 1-0 Southampton

Cardiff 2-0 Wolves

Chelsea 3-1 Huddersfield

Coventry 0-5 West Brom

Liverpool 1-2 BARNSLEY

Manchester United 4-0 Arsenal

Coca-Cola Championship Results: Saturday 16th February 2008:

Charlton 2-2 Watford

Hull 1-1 Colchester

Ipswich 2-1 Blackpool

Leicester 4-0 Norwich

Friday 15th February 2008:

Stoke 3-2 Scunthorpe

Barnsley lie in 14th place in the Coca Cola Championship with 40 points from 32 games.

We are 11 points off the Play-Offs, 19 points off the Automatic Promotion Places, 19 points off First Place and 8 points above the Relegation Zone.

Up to and including 16/2/08

Next Up:

On The Road:

Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Three: Norwich City v Barnsley Saturday 23rd February 2008 Kick-Off 3pm

Tickets:

Adults: £23

Senior Citizens (Over 60): £13

Students (With Valid NUS): £13

Juveniles (Under 16): £13

Juveniles (Under 12): £7

Official Reds on the Road coaches will be making the trip to Carrow Road. Coaches will depart Oakwell at 9.30am on the day of the game and the fare is £17.00.

At Oakwell:

Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Four: Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday Saturday 1st March 2008 Kick-Off 3pm

Tickets:

East Stand and West Stand Upper Tiers
Adults £22.00
OAP/Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00

Barnsley Chronicle Family Area
Adults £22.00
OAP £13.00
Juvenile £13.00
Juveniles (U11) £7.00

East Stand Lower and West Stand Lower
Adults £21.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00

Enterprise PLC Stand (Pontefract Road End)
Adults £20.00
OAP/Juveniles £12.00
Juveniles (U11) £6.00

All Disabled Areas £20.00

Helpers FREE OF CHARGE