Monday, February 18, 2008

TYKES TO FACE HOLDERS CHELSEA


Barnsley have been rewarded for their shock fifth-round victory over Liverpool with a home tie against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The Tykes beat Liverpool 2-1 in a surprise result at Anfield and now take on Chelsea at Oakwell after Avram Grant's side knocked out Huddersfield in the last 16.

Manchester United were drawn at home to fellow Premier League side Portsmouth, while at least one side from outside the top flight will be in the semi-finals after Bristol Rovers were drawn at home to West Brom having knocked out Southampton in the fifth round.

Sheffield United or Middlesbrough will host Cardiff in the remaining match.

The ties will be played on the weekend of March 8 and 9.

Barnsley will hope there is no repeat of the sides' last meeting in South Yorkshire, which Chelsea won 6-0 in August 1997. Former Blues boss Gianluca Vialli scored four goals that day.

The last FA Cup meeting between the sides, in 1989, was much better for the Tykes, who won 4-0 in a third-round clash.

West Brom booked their ticket to the last eight with a 5-0 victory over Coventry, and now face a difficult trip to the west country to take on Bristol Rovers.

The sides last met in a League Cup tie in 1993, with the Baggies winning the first leg 4-0 in Bristol.

Manchester United have already beaten Portsmouth at Old Trafford this season, with Cristiano Ronaldo's brace on January 30 enough for a routine victory.

Should Boro progress past Sheffield United in their fifth-round replay, they will hope to avoid a repeat of their last meeting with Cardiff, which ended in a 2-1 home defeat in a third-round replay in 1994.

Full Draw

Sheffield United or Middlesbrough v Cardiff

Manchester United v Portsmouth

Bristol Rovers v West Brom

Barnsley v Chelsea

  • Ties to be played March 8/9
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