Barnsley make harder work than they should of knocking Norwich City out of the FA Cup

Norwich City did not have a shot on target at Oakwell, but the Reds' own finishing meant a 1-0 win was never comfortable, despite a dominant performance.

Callum Styles scored the only goal of the game but his defensive block in the final quarter of an hour was almost as important.

With a return to the Premier League firmly in Championship leaders Norwich's sights, the suspicion was always that Barnsley would be the hungrier in the FA Cup fourth round tie, and so it proved, their midfield four dominating the first half.

Tony Sibbick had a shot blocked in the third minute from an Alex Mowatt free-kick and the Barnsley captain would be the most influential figure of the game.

Seconds later Tim Krul, on his 100th Norwich appearance, denied Cauley Woodrow with an unconvincing but effective save. He dealt more comfortably with the first of a number of Rohan Palmer shots from the edge of the area.

Curling Mowatt passes into the area from left of centre in midfield looked Barnsley's most dangerous weapon, but when one picked Dominik Frieser out in the 14th minute, his volley was blocked. Michail Heilik had a header saved from the corner.

When Krul spilled another Frieser volley the rebound was just out of Victor Adeboyejo's reach.

Giving the ball a bit of air was certainly the way to go on a bobbly Oakwell pitch.

Frieser and Woodrow got in one another's way going for another Mowatt pass, and the stretching centre-forward was unable to get the power to trouble Krul.

Mowatt again created an opportunity, this time on the right, but Styles was just unable to stretch to fellow wing-back Martin Brittain's cross.

A lovely Mads Anderson pass at the end of the half was met with an even better volleyed centre by Brittain, but Palmer was unable to bury it.

Styles's swirling shot seemed to discomfort Krul, but he managed to put it behind.

For all that, Max Aarons showed in the 39th minute a home win could not be taken for granted.

Cup goalkeeper Brad Collins was holding his breath like everyone else in Oakwell, rooted to the spot and hoping the dipping shot did not squeeze under the bar. He got his wish.

The Canaries were better after the break but Jordan Hugill headed a Przemyslaw Placheta free-kick wide.

Barnsley were still the better side and finally got what they deserved when Aarons headed a Brittain cross in the direction of Styles in the 55th minute. The wing-back swivelled on the ball and found the net.

When Frieser headed a long ball into Woodrow's path the net should have bulged but he made minimal contact with a swing of his right boot when the left was a better bet.

With 16 minutes to go, Norwich suddenly looked a threat and they ought to have made Barnsley pay. Kieran Dowell used his body well to make sure a cross from the right reached Placheta in space, but he smashed his shot against the crossbar.

When substitute Conor Chaplin's poor touch stopped him making the most of another good Brittain ball, Styles had to do brilliantly to throw himself in the way of Emil Buendia's shot. Placheta might reflect that he should have shot rather than squaring to his team-mate.

Chaplin had two more chances to wrap it up but Krul saved well from the first and the second, as the front three combined on the counter-attack, was blocked.

It was a deserved win for Barnsley, but their afternoon ought to have been more comfortable. They host the winners of Sunday's noon game between Chelsea – who they knocked out in the 2008 quarter-finals – and Luton Town in round five.

Barnsley: Collins; Sibbick (Solbauer 63), Helik, Andersen; Brittain, Mowatt, Palmer, (Kane 46) Styles; Frieser (Miller 79), Woodrow (Schmidt 79), Adeboyejo (Chaplin 55).

Unused substitutes: Walton, Oduor, Moon, Omar.

Norwich City: Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Sorensen; Rupp (Martin 78), Tettey (Skipp 63); Hernandez (Buendia 63), Dowell (Vrancic 78), Placheta, Hugill (Omotoye 65).

Unused substitutes: Mumba, Omobamidele, Barden.

Referee: J Brooks (Leicestershire)

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