Goals from Daniel Munoz and Justin Devenny fired Crystal Palace past Doncaster Rovers with a 2-0 away win to set up a fifth round meeting against Millwall in 2024-25 FA Cup.
Munoz fired Palace in front from a 31st minute rebound strike after Jean-Philippe Mateta hit the post on-the-turn from Daichi Kamada’s initial low free-kick.
Devenny wrapped up a clinical away win for the Eagles to set up a fifth round tie at home to Millwall with a 55th minute lob from Will Hughes’ deflected over-the-top cross.
With a home tie awaiting the winner in the fifth round, Doncaster made a resilient start defensively as Palace dominated the opening minutes.
The hosts however mustered the first proper shot of the game in the 11th minute as a move up the left fell for Luke Molyneux to cut across for Billy Sharp, with the experienced forward finding Ethan Ennis who smashed his shot into Matt Turner’s arms.
Palace continued to stay on top for much of the opening half-hour which paid off as Kamada’s 31st minute low free-kick was converted onto the post by Mateta, with Munoz free to put away his rebound shot to put the Eagles in front.
Doncaster twice missed two chances to turn the tie around before half time but Sharp and Molyneux saw shots saved by Turner.
Despite two half-time substitutions for the hosts, Palace almost killed the tie off just three minutes into the restart but Mateta’s cutback cross from the right post was flicked wide by Devenny.
Devenny however atoned for his error just seven minutes later after Hughes’ cross was deflected into his path for him to lob over Teddy Sharman-Lowe to double Palace’s lead.
Sharp and Molyneux continued to prove to be Doncaster’s best sparks but neither player found a way to beat the palms of Turner, whilst the same fate met Owen Bailey in the closing minutes as Palace cruised to victory and a place in the last 16.
What’s Next?
Doncaster turn their attention back to the League Two promotion race with a home fixture against Grimsby Town at 12:30pm GMT on Saturday 15 February.
Palace entertain Everton in a mid-table Premier League clash on the same date, albeit at the later time of 5:30pm at Selhurst Park.
Teams
Doncaster: Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Jamie Sterry (Nixon 80′), Joseph Olowu, Tom Anderson, James Maxwell, George Broadbent (Kelly 70′), Owen Bailey, Luke Molyneux, Billy Sharp (Ironside 62′), Ethan Ennis (Senior 46′), Rob Street (Gibson 46′)
Substitutes: Charlie Crew, Jordan Gibson, Joe Ironside, Patrick Kelly, Ian Lawlor, Tom Nixon, Joe Sbarra, Jack Senior, Zain Westbrooke
Crystal Palace: Matt Turner, Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi, Daniel Munoz (Kporha 90′), Adam Wharton (Lerma 62′) Will Hughes, Tyrick Mitchell (Chilwell 46′), Daichi Kamada (Franca 92′), Justin Devenny (Esse 62′), Jean-Philippe Mateta
Substitutes: Ben Chilwell, Nathaniel Clyne, Matheus Franca, Dean Henderson, Romain Esse, Caleb Kporha, Jefferson Lerma, Remi Matthews
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