Alex Mowatt 8, Cauley Woodrow 7; Tammy Abraham 8, Christian Pulisic 4: Barnsley v Chelsea player ratings

Premier League side edge Championship hosts 1-0 to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals

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  BARNSLEY PLAYER RATINGS: GK Brad Collins, 6 – He was probably anticipating a busy evening when he saw the team sheets, but the 23-year-old - who started his career with Chelsea - didn’t have to make a single save to make either side of Tammy Abraham’s 64th minute strike. PA

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  DF Callum Brittain, 7 – Came desperately close to bundling the Tykes in front when he produced a bursting charge into the box to nip in front of Marcos Alonso, but he could only place his effort straight at Kepa. He had the better of Christian Pulisic at the other end too. Getty Images

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  DF Toby Sibbick, 7 - Solid. He showed excellent reading of the game in the opening exchanges, anticipating Marcos Alonso’s ball pass the line and shepherding the ball out of play, although he got away with one when he brought down Abraham in the box. Reuters

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  DF Michal Helik, 7 - Like his teammates, he kept the Chelsea forwards quiet for the duration of the game in an impressive outing, but he was caught pressing as the Blues finally unlocked the stubborn Tykes. An impressive night’s work nonetheless. Reuters

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  DF Mads Andersen, 7 – Became the second man to survive a penalty shout from Abraham in a matter of minutes after a tussle which left Martin Atkinson unmoved and Abraham unhappy. Good strength from the Dane who held his own at the back. Reuters

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  MF Callum Styles, 6 - Probably the quietest of the Barnsley midfielders, but that means little considering that his side scrapped for every ball from the first whistle, although he’ll be disappointed that he couldn’t quite block repel James’ cross with a last-ditch slide. Getty Images

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  MF Alex Mowatt, 8 – Showed excellent feet to cut back onto his right foot before clipping an excellent cross into the box as Barnsley went close, and he asked questions with some well-taken set-pieces throughout the tie. A classy outing from the Barnsley skipper. AP

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  MF Herbie Kane, 7 - The ex-Liverpool man will have been determined not to become the second Kane to exit the FA Cup in as many days. He could probably see the headlines when a loose ball fell into his path on the edge of the box, but he struck well wide of the target. Reuters

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  MF Conor Chaplin, 7 - The midfielder was always popping up in dangerous areas and he was desperately close to striking gold when his low strike somehow evaded the corner after clipping Victor Adeboyejo, although his next effort was significantly less troublesome. Reuters

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  FW Victor Adeboyejo, 6 - Nigerian-born striker Adeboyejo will have been desperate to emulate compatriot Kayode Odejayi who stunned the Blues in 2008, and he would have done had Conor Chaplin’s strike ended up a few inches to the right after striking the forward. Reuters

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  FW Cauley Woodrow, 7 – 11 goals already for one of Barnsley’s standout performers this campaign. He fizzed an early sighter comfortably over the bar and that set the tone for his evening as a tireless performance when unrewarded on this occasion. Reuters

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  SUBS: DF Michael Sollbauer, NR - Replaced Toby Sibbick. He was painfully close to a dramatic equaliser with his first touch, only for Abraham to turn the ball over the bar with a sublime clearance. PA

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  DF Jordan Williams, NR - Replaced Callum Brittain following a brilliant night’s work, although his introduction didn’t really change the complexion of the tie. PA

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  MF Romal Palmer, NR - Replaced Herbie Kane. He worked hard, but unfortunately his only chance of note struck Billy Gimour. AFP

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  MF Dominik Frieser, 6 - Replaced Chaplin in midfield in a double-change just before the hour-mark. Reuters

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  FW Daryl Dike, 5 - Replaced Victor Adeboyejo but with little effect as, like the man he replaced, he struggled to make things happen. Reuters

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  CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: GK Kepa Arrizabalaga, 7 – The appropriately named stopper has been promised a fresh start by Thomas Tuchel and he rewarded his manager with a super save to deny Brittain from point-blank range. An assured night’s work and a well-deserved clean sheet. Reuters

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  DF Emerson, 6 - Nothing disastrous, but he struggled to deal with the likes of Alex Mowatt in spells and will have been thankful for the switch to left-back following Reece James’ arrival, where he was much more assured. AFP

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  DF Andreas Christensen, 6 - The only survivor from last weekend’s win at nearby Sheffield United, he was in the right place to nod away Kane’s cross, although he was in some discomfort after a clash of heads with Cauley Woodrow and was withdrawn at the break. Getty Images

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  DF Kurt Zouma 7 - The towering defender had to be on his toes as Barnsley delivered a series of calculated crosses into dangerous areas, but he stuck to his task well with some important interventions to repel the ball away to safety. Reuters

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  DF Marcos Alonso, 5 – Almost an unlucky 13th FA Cup appearance in Chelsea colours for the full-back, who was mightily lucky not to be punished after allowing Brittain to evade his attention and was replaced by James at the interval. Reuters

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  MF N'Golo Kante, 6 - The stand-in skipper made a much more subtle start to the contest than we’re probably used to. He improved after the break though, sitting deep and dictating play from the middle as Chelsea started to show more authority. Getty Images

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  MF Billy Gilmour, 6 – A first start under new boss Tuchel for the classy Chelsea youngster. His side were sloppy though and he struggled to make an impact for large spells, but to his credit he picked out the run of James to supply the cross for Abraham to make it 1-0. Reuters

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  MF Callum Hudson-Odoi, 7 - One of Chelsea’s better performers. The England man put in plenty of yards and almost caused chaos when his deep cross dropped kindly for Pulisic. His fizzed second-half strike was close, but always bending away from the far corner. Reuters

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  MF Hakim Ziyech, 5 - Way off his electric best. He grew into the game as it progressed after a timid opening 45 minutes, but despite a couple of nicely slipped passes down the line for Hudson-Odoi to pursue, he was replaced with just over 20 minutes to go. Getty Images

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  MF Christian Pulisic, 4 - The American is yet to rediscover the clinical form he showed last season, and that was the case again here as he struggled to get involved and was marshalled all too easily by Toby Sibbick. Reuters

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  FW Tammy Abraham, 8 - The difference. A frustrating start was epitomised by two penalty shouts that went unheeded, but his efforts were finally rewarded when he tapped home from James’ cross and he produced a huge goal line clearance to preserve his side’s lead. AFP

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  SUBS: DF Reece James, 7 - Replaced Marcos Alonso at half-time and that was to prove a pivotal moment as the young full-back capped a characteristic burst forward by putting the ball on a plate for Abraham. PA

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  DF Antonio Rudiger, 7 - Brought on for Andreas Christensen at the break. He provided some much-needed authority at the back with a couple of vital headers to thwart Brittain and then Kane. He went close at the other end too, powering Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick just wide. AP

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  MF Tino Anjorin, 6 - The teenager replaced an underpar Ziyech in the 69th minute for only his second FA Cup appearance. AFP

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  MF Mateo Kovacic, NR - Replaced Pulisic for the final ten minutes as Tuchel looked to see the game out. PA

Chelsea reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Championship side Barnsley on Thursday settled by a second-half goal from centre forward Tammy Abraham.

The Blues started with 10 new faces from their last Premier League line-up and struggled to find any rhythm in the first half as Barnsley refused to be cowed by their big-name opponents and created the better early chances.

New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel changed his side's shape at the start of the second half, bringing on full back Reece James to replace Marcos Alonso and centre half Antonio Rudiger for Andreas Christensen, and switching to four in defence.

The decisions paid off when James, fed by 19-year-old Billy Gilmour, raced into space and his cross found Abraham for an easy finish as Barnsley's defenders appealed in vain for an offside decision.

Barnsley substitute Michael Sollbauer almost equalised immediately after coming on but his goal-bound flick was cleared off the line by Abraham with a full-stretch header in the 78th minute.

The win was the fourth in five games for Chelsea since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard last month, and it was the fourth clean sheet for the Blues under the German.

Last year's beaten FA Cup finalists will host Sheffield United in the sixth round, having beaten the Yorkshire side twice in the league this season including last week's 2-1 away win.

Assessing the performances from Oakwell Stadium, Nick Judd provides the player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.