UK Edition
Chris Wood comes off bench to score winner from spot and save Burnley from replay with Barnsley
It has been a constant complaint of Sean Dyche’s that Burnley do not get penalties in the Premier League but they were awarded two in the FA Cup.
And while they were not permitted to take the first, as VAR made its debut at a ground that dates back to the 19th century, the second sufficed as Chris Wood’s injury-time spot kick averted embarrassment.
Dyche’s reign includes Cup defeats to Accrington Stanley, Port Vale and non-league Lincoln but overcoming Barnsley, albeit in a mediocre match that will not live long in the memory, completed Burnley’s best week of the season.
Victories over West Ham and Huddersfield were followed by progression in the FA Cup. Dyche made eight changes and while too few understudies impressed, Wood came off the bench to spare Burnley a replay. Liam Lindsay fouled Matej Vydra, who was relieved of penalty-taking duties after neither scoring nor missing.
The Czech was lining up to take the first when the decision was overturned. Vydra met Steven Defour’s curling pass and was nudged over by Dimi Cavare, who was caught on the wrong side of the striker. Referee Simon Hooper gave the penalty and just as Vydra readied himself to take the spot-kick, the video official ruled he had been offside.
The Barnsley fans launched into an approving chorus of “VAR”. They repeated the chant, but in a plead for technology to be used, when they had a goal chalked off on the stroke of half-time. Left-back Ben Williams crossed and the offside Cameron McGeehan headed past Nick Pope. The officials were quick to disallow it.
Apart from a late Alex Mowatt free kick, which whistled past the post, Pope had little else to do on his first appearance since July. Barnsley mustered few chances and Burnley not too many more. All stemmed from headers. Adam Davies denied Kevin Long, Dwight McNeil headed wastefully wide and Sam Vokes and Vydra put efforts over the bar. It seemed to cost Burnley, but when a rematch at Oakwell beckoned, Wood struck.