Crystal Palace advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup after securing a 2-0 victory over fourth-tier Doncaster Rovers on Monday, avoiding the same fate as several other Premier League clubs from London.
Daniel Munoz opened the scoring for the visitors, capitalizing on a rebound after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s free-kick effort hit the post and deflected off Doncaster’s Billy Sharp, leaving Munoz with an easy tap-in.
Justin Devenny doubled Palace’s lead in the second half. The midfielder latched onto Will Hughes’ perfectly lofted pass and lobbed the ball over Doncaster goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe, showcasing his composure and skill.
Devenny’s goal came just as Grant McCann’s side appeared to be gaining momentum against their top-flight opponents, who sit 58 places above them in the English football league system.
Doncaster’s winger Luke Molyneux posed a constant threat, narrowly missing the target with a first-half shot that flew past the right post and a second-half strike that skimmed over the bar.
Sharp tested Palace keeper Matt Turner with a powerful shot from inside the box, while Owen Bailey’s late effort also forced the American into action.
Despite those challenges, Palace remained largely in control on a rain-soaked evening in South Yorkshire.
Their professionalism and quality shone through, with head coach Oliver Glasner opting for a strong lineup that included eight players from the starting XI that defeated Manchester United 2-0 in their previous Premier League outing.
Glasner was rewarded with a disciplined performance and seized the opportunity to introduce teenage winger Romain Esse, a recent signing from Millwall.
He also handed on-loan England left-back Ben Chilwell his first senior appearance since September following his exile at Chelsea.
While London clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, West Ham United, and Brentford have all exited the competition, Palace join Fulham in the last 16.
However, the capital’s representation will diminish further in the next round as Palace are set to host Championship side Millwall on the weekend of March 1-2.
Fulham, who overcame third-tier Wigan Athletic in the last round, will face a tough test when they travel to defending champions Manchester United.
Doncaster, currently third in League Two and pushing for automatic promotion, were the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition, sitting 58 places below Crystal Palace.
Their spirited effort wasn’t enough to prevent the Eagles from progressing to the next stage.
