With attention switching from the Premier League to the FA Cup this midweek, we continue to set the scene for our game in South Yorkshire with key information on the Blues, our opponents and our previous meetings...
Chelsea vs Barnsley head to head
Our only other FA Cup meeting was in 1988/89 in the third round. Barnsley won 4-0 and our team that day was:Roger Freestone, Gareth Hall (Kevin McAllister 54), Tony Dorigo, Graham Roberts, Joe McLaughlin, Darren Wood, Kevin Wilson, Peter Nicholas, Kerry Dixon, Gordon Durie, Clive Wilson (David Lee 70).
Our Carabao Cup meeting earlier this season
CHELSEA 6 BARNSLEY 0Carabao Cup third round, Stamford Bridge, 23.09.20, 7.45pm
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Azpilicueta (c), Tomori, Thiago Silva (Zouma 60), Emerson; Barkley, Kovacic; Hudson-Odoi, Havertz (Chilwell 65), Mount; Abraham (Giroud 71)Unused subs: Baxter, James, Jorginho, WernerScorers: Abraham 19, Havertz 28, 55, 65, Barkley 49, Giroud 83Head coach: Frank Lampard
Barnsley (3-4-1-2): Collins; Sollbauer, Halme, J Williams; Ludewig, Ritzmaier (Oduor 57), Mowatt (c), Styles; Woodrow (Thomas h/t); Schmidt, Frieser (Chaplin 57)Unused subs: Walton, Moon, Simoes, AdeboyejoBooked: Collins 44Head coach: Gerhard Struber
Referee: Darren Bond
Biggest win for each team
Chelsea 6-0 Barnsley - 1905/06 (Div Two), 2020/21 (League Cup)Barnsley 0-6 Chelsea - 1997/98 Premier LeagueBarnsley 4-0 Chelsea - 1988/89 FA Cup
Chelsea stats
Chelsea have progressed from 52 of our last 54 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, only losing against Barnsley in 2008 and Bradford City in 2015.
The last team from a lower division to beat the Blues in the FA Cup was Bradford City in the fourth round in 2015 at Stamford Bridge. The Bantams were sixth in League One at the time and ended our run of 12 successive home victories by winning 4-2.
Our 1-0 defeat away to Barnsley in 2008 was the last time we lost to a Championship side in the FA Cup.
This season’s award for Save of the Fourth Round went to Kepa Arrizabalaga, for his save in our game against Luton Town.
Of our 14 penalties this season in all competitions, Timo Werner has won seven of them. The others are Abraham 2, Giroud 1, Havertz 1, Mount 1, handball 2 (Abraham shot 1, Pulisic shot 1)
In all competitions, Jorginho is now our equal 10th all-time successful penalty taker.
Top all-time penalty scorersLampard 49, Hazard 26, P Sillett 19, Wise 18, Law 16, Roberts 16, Hollins 15, Leboeuf 15, Hilsdon 14, Jorginho 13, Tambling 13, J Harris 12, Hasselbaink 12, Whittingham 12, Osgood 10, Venables 10
Milestones
Barnsley stats
Barnsley are appearing in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in eight years. On the last occasion in February 2013, they beat MK Dons to move into the quarter-finals where they lost 5-0 to Man City.
Mark Robins was manager the last occasion Barnsley defeated a Premier League side in 2009 when they overcame Burnley, managed by Owen Coyle, 3-2 at Oakwell in the third round of the League Cup.
The Tykes’ last victory against a Premier League in the FA Cup was in 2008 when they beat Chelsea at Oakwell. Since then they have lost all five games against top-flight opposition in the competition (West Ham twice, Swansea, Man City and Burnley.
Valerien Ismael’s side are 12th in the Championship with 36 points from 27 games, nine points off the play-off positions.
Barnsley appeared in the FA Cup final twice in three seasons over a hundred years ago. They were runners-up to Newcastle in 1910 and won it two years later by beating West Brom in the replay after extra-time.
Barnsley are spending their 16th season in the Championship since they were relegated from their only season in the Premier League in 1998. They dropped down to League One three times in that period.
Barnsley are currently on a three-match unbeaten run in league and cup since they lost at Watford on 19 January.
Last weekend’s scheduled Championship game against Derby was postponed due to a waterlogged Oakwell pitch.
Gerhard Struber was head coach when we met in the Carabao Cup in September but he left the club the following month. His replacement, France-born Valerien Ismael, has never managed a side against Chelsea although he has played against us once for Crystal Palace on the right of a back three in March 1998 at Stamford Bridge. Luca Vialli’s Blues won the game 6-2.
Barnsley’s road to the fifth round
Who moved to Barnsley in the January window?
Daryl Dyke - Orlando City, loanLiam Kitching - Forest Green RoversCarlton Morris - Norwich City