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Daniel Farke reluctant to criticise Norwich after Barnsley defeat

Daniel Farke reluctant to criticise Norwich after Barnsley defeat
© Reuters
The Tykes are through to face the winners of Sunday lunchtime's FA Cup fourth-round tie.

Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael said he did not care if his side play Chelsea or Luton in the FA Cup fifth round.

Ismael's side booked a potential home tie against Chelsea after knocking out Sky Bet Championship leaders Norwich thanks to Callum Styles' solitary second-half goal at Oakwell.

Barnsley famously toppled Chelsea in 2008 on their way to the semi-finals but Ismael refused to get excited at the prospect of a repeat.

"We'll see. I'm just happy that we play at home," the Frenchman said. "Chelsea or Luton. The FA Cup is a tight competition. It's always a 50/50 situation.

"The good thing is tomorrow we can sit on the couch and enjoy the game."

Barnsley were good value for their win, with Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul doing his best to keep them at bay in the first half with a string of fine saves.

The Dutchman was finally beaten in the 55th minute when man of the match Styles pounced on a loose ball in the area before burying a low finish into the bottom corner.

"I'm delighted he's back from a bit of a slip (in form) the last few weeks," Ismael said of his midfielder, who also produced a last-gasp block to keep out Emi Buendia's shot from in front of goal.

"He played today at his level and he has to stay that way. He's a young player with a big talent, but he has to stay at that level. This is the big thing.

"I think today was a step in the right direction for Callum."

Barnsley's climb up the Championship table under Ismael has been checked by successive narrow defeats to the top three sides.

"We knew that we are near, we are close to beating a top team and now we made the next step up," the former Crystal Palace defender added.

"I have to say it was one of the best performances because we were stable and we controlled a lot of situations and created a lot of chances."

Norwich, seven points clear at the top of the Championship after their midweek home win against Bristol City, fell short in South Yorkshire.

"It was definitely not our best performance," said manager Daniel Farke. "Congratulations to Barnsley. They deserved to win this game and we have to accept this.

"Of course Barnsley away is a difficult game anyway, but we had to rotate a bit more and give some players game time. I don't want to criticise my team too much."

Injury to striker Jordan Hugill compounded a miserable afternoon for the Canaries.

Hugill was forced off with a hamstring injury and joins fellow striker Teemu Pukki in the treatment room.

"We expect him (Hugill) to be out for a while. He went for a sprint and felt his hamstring," Farke added.

"We must wait for the diagnosis on Jordan. But it looks likely he will miss a few games."

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Who will progress into the FA Cup fifth round

Barnsley
29.7%
Norwich City
70.3%
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich28167535231255
2Brentford27159352272554
3Swansea CitySwansea27158435152053
4Reading27146740291148
5Watford28139631201148
6Bournemouth28129743281545
7Middlesbrough28117103128340
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn271161041291239
9Stoke CityStoke2891273229339
10Bristol City28123132933-439
11Preston North EndPreston28113143236-436
12Barnsley27106112934-536
13Millwall2871472626035
14Cardiff CityCardiff2797113531434
15Luton TownLuton2797112229-734
16Queens Park RangersQPR2789102632-633
17Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2896133139-833
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2888122530-532
19Coventry CityCoventry28710112637-1131
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham2685133236-429
21Derby CountyDerby2777131728-1128
22Birmingham CityBirmingham28610122134-1328
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2787121930-1125
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2637161845-2716

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