Barnsley 3-0 Crewe Alexandra: Tykes cruise into round three with comfortable win

Devante Cole, Adam Phillips and Josh Benson scored to give Barnsley victory over Crewe as they progressed to the third round of the FA Cup.

The first opportunity of the game fell to Barnsley skipper Mads Juel Andersen, who was left free inside the box but could not direct Luca Connell's corner home.

The visitors' first chance came after a loose Liam Kitching pass allowed the Railwaymen to counter. Daniel Agyei broke down the right, but his effort struck the side netting from a tight angle.

The home side broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark as Crewe failed to clear Connell's cross and top-scorer Cole reacted quickest to tap home from a few yards out.

Phillips doubled Barnsley's advantage in the 50th minute when he was played through by Kitching and fired into the roof of the net to claim his fourth goal in five games.

Michael Duff's side were awarded a penalty shortly after when Connell was fouled inside the box in the 57th minute and Benson stepped up and struck left of Arthur Okonkwo to make it 3-0.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

Barnsley first-team coach Martin Devaney told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Crewe are a good team, they sat in and we found it difficult at times to try and break them down.

"We got the goal from a set-piece and then second half, we were just trying to play football, staying calm and patient and working on that final pass.

"If you look at the team (on the pitch) at the end, I don't know what the average age was, but it was very, very young.

"It would be great to get a Premiership club (in the draw), that's what the FA Cup is all about, great for the fans and brings extra people in. All eyes on Monday and see who we get."

Interim Crewe boss Lee Bell:

"I thought we'd be able to play a bit more, in terms of finding the forward players with the ball.

"To concede a scrappy first goal is something we must eradicate. It changed their (Barnsley's) mentality going into half-time.

"We dealt with them well, and their goals were avoidable. We wanted the lads to keep discipline. Chasing the ball against good players means you can get picked off quite easily.

"We reminded them about keeping shape, keeping courage when they get the football and not just running around aimlessly to show effort. We have to know what we are and keep to it."