Barnsley 0-1 Chelsea: Below-par Blues avoid FA Cup banana skin

Tammy Abraham came to the rescue at both ends of the pitch to help Thomas Tuchel negotiate his first FA Cup tie and Chelsea maintain London’s interest in this season’s competition.

It was far from serene progress for new boss Tuchel, who sent out the reserves against Championship opponents thrashed by six goals at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

Barnsley are much-improved since September and proved to be both stubborn and spirited on a night of sub-zero temperatures in South Yorkshire. 

Chelsea are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after a hard-fought win over a plucky Barnsley side on Thursday

Tammy Abraham was the match-winner as he ensured there would be no giant killing at Oakwell with his close range finish

The England international impressed on a rare start and made no mistake from close range after Reece James pulled it back

They were left to rue missed chances while Chelsea dominated possession and yet struggled for fluency on a heavy surface.

Tuchel’s side came under pressure at times against their hosts from the Championship, but Abraham tapped in the only goal of the game, in the second half, from what would prove to be their only shot on target.

The England striker then headed clear from his own goal line to deny Barnsley substitute Michael Sollbauer a late equaliser and secure a quarter-final at home against Sheffield United for last season’s runners-up.  

Chelsea defender James was brought into the action after half time and upped the tempo with his electric pace on the wing

The Tykes came close to finding the back of the net on a few occasions as Abraham was forced to head off the line late on

The Championship side were effective in unnerving the Premier League outfit with threatening set-plays and aerial prowess

‘I am relieved, to be honest,’ said Tuchel, a domestic cup winner in Germany and France. 

‘We can clearly play better, it was not our best performance. 

‘We were lucky twice. In the first half, when Kepa saved us and when Tammy saved us with the header on the line. 

‘We have to admit we struggled to adapt but in the Cup sometimes it is like this and I can’t be too harsh.

‘The circumstances were not easy and we went through. 

‘We can stop all the analysis. Chelsea is through to the quarter-final, that’s the most important thing.’

Kepa Arrizabalaga was recalled in goal for the first time under the new boss and, if there were any nerves for him, they were soothed by a splendid save made to deny Callum Brittain from point-blank range, early in the game.

Alex Mowatt’s cross from the Barnsley left was flicked on to Brittain who must have thought he only had to make contact to nudge his side ahead as he drifted away from Marcos Alonso and arrived in front of goal. 

He met the ball on the bounce but Kepa stood firm on his line and made a vital block.

Barnsley’s head coach Valerien Ismael promised intensity and his young side and was delighted with the way they opened the game. 

The first time his goalkeeper Brad Collins, a former Chelsea trainee, was called into action was to keep out what would have been a spectacular own goal from centre-half Toby Sibbick. 

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel looked far from pleased with his side’s display but will be happy they got the job done 

Barnsley continued to be a menace in the second half as substitute Antonio Rudiger battled the threat of Cauley Woodrow

Styles and Mowatt (far left) were key for the Tykes in unsettling Chelsea as Ziyech is dispossessed after some intense pressure

Abraham wanted a penalty when he went down under a slide tackle by Sibbick and seemed to have a strong case. Slow motion footage showed the defender go through Abraham to reach the ball but, in the FA Cup, only ties at Premier League venues have the VAR.

On-pitch referee Martin Atkinson waved the appeals away as he did moments later when Abraham tangled with Mads Andersen.

Barnsley continued to cause problems, forcing the visitors to defend a range of crosses into the penalty area. Kepa coped well under the aerial pressure and earned himself a slice of good fortune at the end of the first half.

Brittain’s low shot appeared to be destined for the far corner when it struck team-mate Victor Adeboyejo and diverted wide. 

‘We were the best side in the first half and had two big chances to score,’ said Ismael. ‘You have to score but we can take confidence from our performance against a very good team.’ 

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso (right) battles to keep hold of the ball with Barnsley’s Victor Adeboyejo putting a foot in 

Chelsea striker Abraham (middle) found himself swamped by a sea of red shirts with Barnsley pressing the Blues high

Tuchel made two changes at the interval. Andreas Christensen, who required treatment for a bang on the head in the first half, was replaced by Antonio Rudiger, and Reece James replaced Alonso. 

Chelsea also flexed the team shape, moving to a back-four which pushed Callum Hudson-Odoi further forward on the left.

Hudson-Odoi tried to inject some purpose into Chelsea’s performance with a powerful run and shot, and Rudiger headed a good chance wide from a free-kick delivered by Hakim Ziyech, who was largely subdued.

Barnsley boss Ismael handed a debut off the bench to new striker Daryl Dike, signed on loan from Orlando City, but before he could influence the tie, the home side went behind.

Billy Gilmour sent James scampering clear down the right and his low cross found Abraham, hat-trick hero against Luton in the fourth round, and he tapped it into an open net. 

Barnsley could and should have taken the lead in the first half as Callum Brittain failed to beat Kepa from close range

The Blues were sloppy in possession in the first half at Oakwell with Billy Gilmour not able to set the tempo for the team 

Those in Barnsley red looked in hope towards assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis. 

There was no flag and no VAR but lines drawn by the broadcasters supported the decision by the officials.

The home team rallied but Kepa preserved his clean sheet with the help of the centre forward.

‘It was an instinctive reaction,’ said Abraham. 

‘I had to do this and try something. I probably celebrated the clearance more than the goal.’

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is put under pressure early in the game as Barnsley’s Callum Styles charges from behind

Relive Sportsmail’s live FA Cup coverage of Barnsley vs Chelsea at Oakwell with Sportsmail’s OLI GAMP.