Portsmouth turn on the style to storm into FA Cup fifth round with dominant Barnsley win

Pompey marched into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2010 as Championship Barnsley were soundly sent packing.
Christian Burgess celebrates his goal today. Picture: Joe Pepler/PinPepChristian Burgess celebrates his goal today. Picture: Joe Pepler/PinPep
Christian Burgess celebrates his goal today. Picture: Joe Pepler/PinPep

The Blues cruised to a 4-1 win in front of a crowd of 13,286 at a buoyant Fratton Park with a dominant display on Conor Chaplin’s return.

Ben Close and John Marquis got the first-half goals before Cauley Woodrow briefly gave the Tykes hope with an outstanding 30 yarder.

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Ronan Curtis extinguished the visitors hopes though, before Burgess thundered home his second goal in eight days on day to savour.

Chaplin’s stoppage-time consolation was of little consequence on a day when Kenny Jackett’s men shone.

Pompey made six changes from the mid-week EFL Trophy win over Scunthorpe and three switches from the last league outing at Bolton.

Ben Close, Ryan Williams and Andy Cannon came in for Marcus Harness, Cameron McGeehan and Ellis Harrison form the side who picked up a 1-0 League One success.

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Tom Naylor was a whisker away from the opener after seven minutes when he drove a 20 yarder just wide.

Marcel Ritzmaier’s reply was to blaze over under pressure from James Bolton when well placed in the box.

Andy Cannon miscued in the box from Williams’ cross in the 11th minute before Brad Collins dodged a bullet 13 minutes later when Marquis charged down his clearance but the ball flew inches wide.

The opener arrived eight minutes before the break as Cannon wriggled around in the area before teeing up Close to fire home from the edge of the box.

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That lit up a half low on quality and it got better for Pompey just before the break as Ronan Curtis met Steve Seddon’s corner with a firm header and Marquis was credited with applying the final touch on the line.

Pompey had a great chance for a third six minutes after the restart as Williams’ cross was well met by Curtis header under pressure but Marquis touch was heavy a couple of yards out and Collins gathered.

The visitors were back into it after 60 minutes with a goal from nothing as Woodrow smashed in a 30 yarder past the helpless Alex Bass.

Brown then missed a massive chance to level as he fired wide from a few yards.

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He was left to rue that chance when Curtis put his side back in front with a cool finish from a ball over the top after 62 minutes.

And Fratton Park was buoyant as Burgess thundered home a header from Seddon’s corner to make it 4-1.

That made for a jolly ending to a dominant display with the home fans singing of Wembley on a day to savour.

And the Pompey fans probably didn’t mind their old favourite Chaplin prodding home a stoppage-time consolation for the visitors.

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