Barnsley are struggling even in League One, and now they face Brighton, who recently held Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur. Do they have any chance at all?
In the previous round Barnsley edged Rotherham United (2:1), one of League One’s strugglers this season. Their last meeting with Premier League opposition was a disaster: in last year’s third round Manchester United dismantled them (7:0) at Old Trafford.
Brighton could have beaten Tottenham Hotspur in round five of the Premier League but let slip a two-goal advantage inside the first half-hour to draw 2:2. They still have only one league victory, but most of their matches have been decided by a single goal. Only Everton have beaten Brighton comfortably (2:0). Against lower-league opposition, however, they have been ruthless. Crawley Town were swept aside (4:0), and Oxford United of the Championship were hammered 6:0 in the last round.
Unless Brighton switch off completely, another heavy defeat looms for Barnsley. The gulf in class is huge, and Brighton have shown they can be clinical when facing weaker sides.