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Tammy Abraham saved Chelsea\u2019s blushes with a second-half winner at Barnsley as his side scraped through to the last eight of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win.<\/p>\nTammy Abraham saved Chelsea\u2019s blushes with a second-half winner at Barnsley as his side scraped through to the last eight of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win.<\/p>\n
Abraham struck the fifth-round tie\u2019s only goal from close range, but it was tough luck on Barnsley, who put up a valiant effort.<\/p>\n
The Sky Bet Championship side had the game\u2019s best chances against Thomas Tuchel\u2019s mis-firing Blues.<\/p>\n
But they fell short in their bid to pull off a repeat of their club\u2019s heroics against Chelsea in the same competition 13 years ago.<\/p>\n
The Reds produced a huge quarter-final upset in 2008 when Kayode Odejayi headed their winner, but this time they paid the price for failing to take their chances.<\/p>\n
They were unlucky not to have led at half-time, with Callum Brittain twice going closest to breaking the deadlock.<\/p>\n
The midfielder\u2019s close-range effort from Alex Mowatt\u2019s excellent cross in the 10th minute forced a superb reaction save from Kepa Arrizabalaga.<\/p>\n
Then just before half-time Brittain fired goalwards following a clever corner routine only for his shot to be deflected off target.<\/p>\n
In between, Chelsea were denied what appeared to be a penalty by referee Martin Atkinson.<\/p>\n
Tammy Abraham galloped on to Billy Gilmour\u2019s throughball and Barnsley defender Toby Sibbick caught the Chelsea striker\u2019s foot as he slid in for a goal-saving challenge.<\/p>\n
Tuchel sent on Reece James and Antonio Rudiger for Marcos Alonso and Andreas Christensen at the start of the second half in a bid to kick-start his misfiring side.<\/p>\n
But Barnsley continued to look the more dangerous. Cauley Woodrow\u2019s effort was blocked by Rudiger before Chelsea flickered into life.<\/p>\n
Callum Hudson-Odoi wriggled free of two Barnsley defenders on to the left edge of the penalty area, but pulled his 60th-minute shot wide.<\/p>\n
The Londoners had not mustered an effort on target, but threatened again when Rudiger\u2019s header from Hakim Ziyech\u2019s free-kick flashed wide.<\/p>\n
James added real pace and power down Barnsley\u2019s left side and it was the England right-back who fashioned Chelsea\u2019s breakthrough.<\/p>\n
He stormed beyond Barnsley\u2019s cover and his fine low cross was tapped home from close range by Abraham to give Chelsea a 64th-minute lead.<\/p>\n
Replays showed Abraham was offside when James played the ball across and the Premier League side will be grateful there are no video assistant referees in the FA Cup.<\/p>\n
Abraham then rescued Chelsea at the other end, bailing out Arrizabalaga.<\/p>\n
The Blues goalkeeper failed to get anywhere near another Mowatt free-kick and Abraham headed Barnsley substitute Michael Sollbauer\u2019s hooked effort off the goal-line from under the crossbar.<\/p>\n