Avram Grant: 'This is the worst day of my career'

Humiliated Chelsea boss Avram Grant saw his Chelsea side crash out of the FA Cup to Barnsley and then admitted: This was the worst day of my career."

The Blues boss could only watch as his multimillionaires were ripped apart by the Yorkshire side, who knocked Liverpool out in the last round.

Under-fire Chelsea boss Avram Grant has now lost two big cup ties in less than a fortnight followingthe Blues' 2-1 Carling Cup Final defeat to London rivals Spurs.

Grant said: "This is the worst day I've had since I joined Chelsea.

"It was not a pitch we could play good football on but I need to congratulate Barnsley for playing very well and showing great spirit. We had a chance to win the FA Cup regardless of what happened elsewhere. It's hugely disappointing."

TYKE THAT

KAYODE ODEJAYI is hardly a name that rolls off the tongue, but it will long be remembered in FA Cup history as Barnsley produced another massive shock to send millionaire holders Chelsea crashing out.

As if beating Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in the fifth round three weeks ago was not enough, the Coca-Cola Championship minnows went one better to book a dream semi-final place at Wembley.

Nigerian striker Odejayi, a £200,000 buy from Cheltenham in May, scored his first goal in 28 games to earn his team-mates a £1,000-a-man bonus.

Bonuses

And delighted Tykes boss Simon Davey declared: "Now they will be going straight to the chairman to ask for their new suits and their bonuses.

"I'm over the moon. I don't want to wake up and be told it's not true!

"We are in the semi-finals and we are going to Wembley. I've never been to Wembley before as a player, manager or fan. A lot of our players have never been either and I can't wait."

Barnsley's fabulous win followed Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth as the magic of the FA Cup flourished again.

Davey added: "To beat Chelsea with all the millions they've got is incredible.

"We don't have a lot of cash so I suspect the toilets in the away dressing-room weren't working, the heating was probably off and there was salt in their tea!

"Although we won at Anfield nobody thought we could do it again. However, I believed we could, especially on our home ground.

"My players were fantastic today and I am really pleased for them.

"I can't give enough credit to Kayode. I believed in him from day one even though he has taken a lot of criticism over the last few months."

Davey's heroes earned just £600 a man for their fantastic win at Liverpool.

Though that was upped by £400 for yesterday's triumph, it was still less than Chelsea's German international midfielder Michael Ballack earns in a single DAY.

But Barnsley captain Brian Howard was not thinking about the cash. He said: "It is unbelievable, it hasn't sunk in. They are the Cup-holders and one of the wealthiest clubs in the world and they have come here and we have turned them over.

"It is incredible for the whole of Barnsley. When was the last time we were in the FA Cup semi-final? It's time to get the record books out."

The answer is 1912. And for the record, the Tykes went on to win the Cup that year, a Harry Tufnell goal giving them a 1-0 replay win over West Brom after a 0-0 draw.

Clash

And with West Brom playing Bristol Rovers today and all the Premier League big guns knocked out, the two could be heading for another Final clash 96 years later.

Howard added: "The whole town deserves it. We have gone to Anfield and won, now we have knocked out Chelsea. Bring on Wembley!"

Hero Odejayi, who is sponsored by a taxi firm, cemented Barnsley's place at Wembley with his 66th-minute header. And he declared: "Who knows - it could be our year!

"It's not just about me, it's all of the 11 players, the squad, the management and the fans - everyone was fantastic. We deserved it for the effort we put in today."