Rose pleased as Barnsley continue to blossom under Struber

Barnsley coach Matt Rose was pleased the Tykes players were able to maintain their improvement under the new regime and win the FA Cup third round tie at Crewe.

Jacob Brown, Conor Chaplin and Luke Thomas scored as Barnsley overcame their League Two opponents to book a fourth-round place for first time since 2013.

Before Thursday’s defeat at Derby the Tykes had lost just once in seven games under new boss Gerhard Struber and his assistant, Rose, said: “We’d had a good run, with five good results, so it was important to keep that going and not follow up the Derby defeat with another.

“It suited us playing a team like Crewe and we put them under a lot of pressure. It was a top performance by us in the first 15 minutes. We let our standard drop for a bit but we finished the game well.

“Luke must have gone from 0 to 200mph in five seconds for the third, but that’s cup football.

“Crewe sent their keeper up and we broke away to finish it. But it could have gone the other way and they could have scored. I don’t think anyone wanted a replay with the way it is in the Championship.”

Thomas broke clear to finish into an empty net with keeper Will Jaaskelainen stranded in the opposing half after Barnsley repelled a stoppage-time free-kick.

Crewe did well to fight back after coming under heavy pressure early on when Brown volleyed home a third-minute opener for the visitors after taking a pass from Chaplin.

But Daniel Powell twice wasted clear first-half chances, firing into the side netting and side-footing wide of an empty net after Tommy Lowery’s low cross found its way to the back post.

Paul Green’s close-range header levelled the tie three minutes into the second half and the hosts – who had made four changes from their last outing – finished the game on the front foot.

However, Chaplin restored Barnsley’s lead with 15 minutes remaining when he stooped to head in, before Thomas completed the scoring.

Crewe boss Dave Artell admitted the gulf of two divisions had shown in the end.

He said: “They had quality players all over the pitch and were the better team on the day, but we gave it a good go and I don’t think you can fault our effort.

“We should have gone in at half-time at 1-1 as Daniel missed a good chance. But when we got the goal we stopped doing what we were doing and they imposed themselves on the game more than we did.

“It is difficult to have a real go at a Championship side in fairness to the boys, but the balance of power and momentum can’t be as far in their favour as it was.”