It wasn't to be...

Barnsley 0 v 1 Cardiff City
FA Cup Semi-Final - Wembley Stadium. Att: 82,752
Sunday, 6th April 2008

Snow covered the ground by dawn but it did not dampen the occasion as two teams from the Championship tried to make it to the Final. Although the four semi-finalists (Portsmouth had beaten West Bromwich Albion yesterday) were not regarded as fashionable they had all previously won the tournament. Cardiff City are the only side from outside England to have won the cup following their victory in 1927 and Barnsley beat West Bromwich Albion in 1912 just weeks after the sinking of the Titanic.

The game was not a classic but it was entertaining. Cardiff scored on 9 minutes after dominating the opening exchanges but Barnsley came back into the game and had a string of corners and set-pieces none of which they coverted. After the break the game was more even but Barnsley still looked capable of equalising and had a great chance when Odejayi broke clean through on 66 minutes and had only the 'keeper to beat but managed to hit the side-netting. The big striker scored the winner against Chelsea in the previous round and did well in winning most of the ball during the game but that Chelsea strike is his only strike since September and today's miss adds to his woe.

Barnsley looked as if they decided that their chance had gone after Odejayi's miss and never really looked like coming back after that. So Cardiff City set up a Final with Portsmouth.