Barnsley 0-1 Chelsea: Tammy Abraham scores winner at Oakwell

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said his side failed to show “enough courage” in their narrow FA Cup win over Championship side Barnsley.

Tammy Abraham scored the winner with his side’s only attempt on target to book a quarter-final home tie with Sheffield United.

Abraham was forced to make a headed goal-line clearance towards the end to deny Barnsley substitute Michael Sollbauer an equaliser.

“We scored the goal and I had the feeling that they increased the risk, but we stepped down in the little decisions,” added Tuchel, who made 10 changes to his side.

“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.”

Hard-working Barnsley were the better team in the first half with Kepa Arrizabalaga blocking Callum Brittain’s attempt at point-blank range.

The hosts claimed Abraham was offside for his goal but the England forward just held his run to ensure he was onside to finish from close range.

Chelsea are now unbeaten in five games since Tuchel took charge in January and will entertain Sheffield United in the sixth round on the weekend of 20-21 March.

Chelsea’s fringe players given chance to impress new boss

Chelsea were languishing ninth in the Premier League when Tuchel took charge but are now one point off the top four and two wins from a fourth FA Cup final in five seasons.

This was a chance for Tuchel to take a first close look at his fringe players but they largely struggled to impress – and failed to register an attempt on target during a disjointed first half.

Kepa, demoted by previous boss Frank Lampard in favour of Edouard Mendy, kept his side on level terms with a fine save to keep out Brittain, who should have scored after Alex Mowatt’s cross was flicked into his path.

In addition to Kepa, Emerson Palmieri, Kurt Zouma and 19-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour were also appearing for the first time under Tuchel, while Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante made first starts since the German came in.

Brittain went close again after firing through a sea of legs, while Chelsea’s only meaningful first-half attack ended up with Pulisic sending Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross wide.

The winning goal came from a lovely move with Gilmour at its heart. The ball eventually came to James who squared to Abraham for his 12th goal of the season.

Even then Chelsea had to endure a nervous ending against an impressive Barnsley side full of energy.

Sollbauer went close to equalising only for Abraham to clear his goal bound attempt as Chelsea lived dangerously.

‘Proud of the performance’ – what they said

Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael: “It’s exactly the game we wanted, we made a great performance. We could see how far we can bring our principles, to make Chelsea make mistakes, we did it perfect in the first half but we had to score.

“It was a change in the second half, Chelsea made a change of shape and had more control. We were punished for one moment which was a shame. But we kept fighting to the end, we are proud of the performance.”

Chelsea boss Tuchel on playing Sheffield United in the quarter-finals: “It’s going to be a tough one. They are a very physical team that presses high. They are organised but I am happy to have a home game. This is what we wanted.”

Chelsea in more FA Cup quarters than any other side this century

Since – and including – the year 2000, Chelsea have reached the FA Cup quarter-final more times than any other side, with victory against Barnsley ensuring their 15th appearance in the last eight in that time.

Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham has been involved in nine goals in his last seven starts in the FA Cup (6 goals, 3 assists).

Since the start of last season, Abraham has scored 30 goals for Chelsea in all competitions, at least 11 more than any other player at the club.

No opposition player has scored against Chelsea in 450 minutes of action under manager Thomas Tuchel, with the Blues’ only goal conceded under the German coming via an own goal against Sheffield United.

What’s next?

Barnsley return to Championship action away at Brentford on Sunday (13:00 GMT), while Chelsea host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Monday (20:00).

Player of the match

MowattAlex Mowatt

Barnsley

Squad number27Player nameMowatt

Squad number7Player nameBrittain

Squad number9Player nameWoodrow

Squad number4Player nameStyles

Squad number8Player nameKane

Squad number6Player nameAndersen

Squad number30Player nameHelik

Squad number11Player nameChaplin

Squad number20Player nameSibbick

Squad number29Player nameVictor Adeboyejo

Squad number26Player nameSollbauer

Squad number21Player namePalmer

Squad number2Player nameWilliams

Squad number40Player nameCollins

Squad number28Player nameFrieser

Squad number10Player nameDike

Chelsea

Squad number23Player nameGilmour

Squad number9Player nameAbraham

Squad number20Player nameHudson-Odoi

Squad number24Player nameJames

Squad number7Player nameKanté

Squad number1Player nameArrizabalaga

Squad number15Player nameZouma

Squad number55Player nameAnjorin

Squad number2Player nameRüdiger

Squad number4Player nameChristensen

Squad number10Player namePulisic

Squad number3Player nameAlonso

Squad number33Player nameEmerson

Squad number17Player nameKovacic

Squad number22Player nameZiyech

Line-ups Barnsley

Formation 3-4-3

40Collins

20Sibbick30Helik6Andersen

7Brittain8Kane27Mowatt4Styles

29Adeboyejo9Woodrow11Chaplin

40Collins

20Sibbick Substituted forSollbauerat 76’minutes

30Helik

6Andersen

7Brittain Substituted forWilliamsat 73’minutes

8Kane Substituted forPalmerat 73’minutes

27Mowatt

4Styles

29Adeboyejo Substituted forDikeat 59’minutes

9Woodrow

11Chaplin Substituted forFrieserat 59’minutes

Substitutes

1Walton

2Williams

10Dike

21Palmer

22Oduor

26Sollbauer

28Frieser

34Moon

46Thompson

Chelsea

Formation 3-4-3

1Arrizabalaga

4Christensen15Zouma33Emerson

20Hudson-Odoi7Kanté23Gilmour3Alonso

22Ziyech9Abraham10Pulisic

1Arrizabalaga

4Christensen Substituted forRüdigerat 45’minutes

15Zouma

33Emerson

20Hudson-Odoi

7Kanté

23Gilmour

3Alonso Substituted forJamesat 45’minutes

22Ziyech Substituted forAnjorinat 69’minutes

9Abraham

10Pulisic Substituted forKovacicat 80’minutes

Substitutes

2Rüdiger

13Caballero

17Kovacic

18Giroud

21Chilwell

24James

28Azpilicueta

54Bate

55Anjorin

Live Text

Match ends, Barnsley 0, Chelsea 1.

90’+4′

Second Half ends, Barnsley 0, Chelsea 1.

90’+3′

Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90’+3′

Foul by Michal Helik (Barnsley).

90’+2′

Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).

90’+2′

Alex Mowatt (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90′

Offside, Chelsea. Kepa Arrizabalaga tries a through ball, but Tammy Abraham is caught offside.

90′

Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90′

Foul by Michal Helik (Barnsley).

89′

Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Tammy Abraham.

88′

Offside, Barnsley. Michael Sollbauer tries a through ball, but Daryl Dike is caught offside.

87′

Attempt blocked. Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daryl Dike.

86′

Attempt blocked. Daryl Dike (Barnsley) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

86′

Attempt saved. Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alex Mowatt with a cross.

85′

Foul by Billy Gilmour (Chelsea).

85′

Alex Mowatt (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the left wing.

84′

Foul by Tammy Abraham (Chelsea).

84′

Romal Palmer (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

82′

Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).

82′

Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the left wing.