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Barnsley began this season’s FA Cup campaign with a tough trip to Bolton Wanderers in the first round earlier in November, and they went ahead early through a Ricardo Santos own goal, before Adam Phillips doubled their lead on the half-hour mark.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson pulled one back for their hosts in the final 10 minutes, but Michael Duff‘s side stood strong to triumph on their travels and advance to the second round, before strengthening their promotion bid in League One with back-to-back three-point hauls in the following two encounters.
Michael Duff’s side firstly triumphed away at Shrewsbury Town before hosting MK Dons last weekend and moving into the playoff spots with a 3-1 victory, as Phillips was again on the scoresheet between goals from Jordan Williams and Herbie Kane.
The Tykes now come into the weekend on the back of a cup defeat, though, as their EFL Trophy campaign ended with a 2-1 defeat away at Port Vale in the second round on Wednesday, with Tom Edwards‘s 73rd-minute goal not enough to spark a comeback.
Before they turn their focus back to their fight for an immediate promotion back to the Championship this season, Duff’s men are tasked with seeing off fourth-tier opposition at Oakwell on Saturday in order to book their place in the third round of the FA Cup.
Their visitors, meanwhile, will make the trip hoping to cause a major upset, having already pulled off an impressive result to reach this stage, as they took on League Two leaders Leyton Orient in the first round.
That game at Gresty Road looked set to end goalless and go to a replay, but Bassala Sambou popped up with a 92nd-minute winner to ensure his side advanced and avoided a trip to East London for a return fixture.
They now face another unenviable tie against one of the strongest sides currently in the competition, but the Railwaymen will travel with extra confidence following their first-round win, having also put up back-to-back victories in League Two, firstly beating Colchester 1-0 before Dan Agyei hit the only goal away at Swindon Town last weekend.
Barnsley heavily rotated their squad for the EFL Trophy contest away at Port Vale, but we should see the Tykes revert to their strongest starting XI on Saturday, with Mads Andersen and Tom Edwards set to rejoin Liam Kitching in a back three from the outset.
Further forward, Devante Cole will come back in to lead the line, while Slobodan Tedic remains doubtful due to an injury, meaning James Norwood could earn a first start following his return to fitness unless Jack Aitchison is preferred.
Luca Connell has been a key man in midfield since arriving from Celtic in the summer, and he should again play in the engine room alongside Herbie Kane and Adam Phillips after both got on the scoresheet in their recent league win over MK Dons.
Crewe Alexandra will likely remain without danger man Courtney Baker-Richardson, who has been out of action since the beginning of November after netting seven goals in his first 15 league appearances of the season.
In his absence, Dan Agyei will be relied on to lead the line, while Bassala Sambou should also feature in the attack after netting the winner in the first round.
Luke Offord has been a mainstay in the Railwaymen defence so far this season, and he should again partner Billy Sass-Davies in the middle of a back four.
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Collins; Edwards, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Kane, Connell, Phillips, Cadden; Cole, Norwood
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Mellor, Offord, Sass-Davies, Uwakwe; Brook, Thomas, King; Tabiner; Agyei, Sambou
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
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“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life