Crystal Palace will face Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup for a place in the fifth round on Monday night.
Doncaster Rovers will welcome Crystal Palace to the Keepmoat Stadium on Monday in a thrilling FA Cup fourth-round clash. The League Two outfit will be aiming to defy the odds and claim a memorable upset, while Palace look to avoid any hiccups in their pursuit of a deep run in the competition.
Crystal Palace enter this fixture in fine form, having started the year with a string of impressive results. The Eagles secured their place in the fourth round with a narrow 1-0 win over Stockport County, courtesy of Eberechi Eze’s fourth-minute strike. Manager Oliver Glasner has shown his intent to take the domestic cup competitions seriously, fielding a strong lineup even in earlier rounds, which bodes well for their aspirations.
Palace’s FA Cup history has been mixed in recent years. While they have suffered early exits in the past two campaigns — falling to Everton and Southampton in the third round — they managed to reach the semi-finals in 2022, only to be ousted by Chelsea. With no FA Cup titles to their name, the Eagles are eyeing another rare shot at Wembley glory.
Bidding to extend their remarkable record of 12 consecutive wins against lower-league opposition in the FA Cup, Palace last suffered a shock defeat to such a side in 1978, when Hartlepool United stunned them. Glasner’s men come into this match buoyed by their 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend, with Jean-Philippe Mateta delivering a clinical performance.
Adding to their confidence, Palace have been defensively resolute on the road, keeping three consecutive clean sheets away from home and conceding none since December 18. Glasner will be keen to see his side maintain this momentum against a spirited Doncaster side.
Grant McCann’s side will approach this tie with optimism, having already pulled off a significant shock in the third round by defeating Championship side Hull City on penalties. That dramatic victory, secured after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes, was a testament to Doncaster’s resilience and composure under pressure.
The win over Hull acted as a springboard for a remarkable run of form in League Two, where Doncaster climbed into the top three after winning four consecutive matches. However, their progress was halted on Thursday when they suffered a 5-2 defeat to Chesterfield, marking their first loss of 2025. Despite this setback, Doncaster have been formidable at home, winning four of their last five fixtures at the Keepmoat Stadium.
This clash against Crystal Palace marks the second time the two sides have met in recent FA Cup history. In their last encounter during the 2018-19 fifth round, Palace emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, courtesy of goals from Max Meyer and Jeffrey Schlupp. McCann will hope his side can avenge that defeat and write a new chapter in Doncaster’s FA Cup story. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers emerged from their 5-2 defeat to Chesterfield without any fresh injury concerns, but manager Grant McCann might consider a couple of changes to his starting lineup following the nature of that heavy loss.
Veteran striker Billy Sharp, who recently celebrated his 39th birthday, could be an option to lead the line. However, despite Joe Ironside’s late goal being of little consequence in the previous match, his performance may still be enough to keep Sharp on the bench.
Doncaster Rovers will rely on their resilient midfield and home support as they look to cause an FA Cup upset, with their primary focus on staying compact defensively and utilising quick transitions in attack.
Doncaster Rovers are likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Teddy Sharman-Lowe starting as the goalkeeper. The back four will feature Jamie Sterry at right-back, Joseph Olowu and Jay McGrath as the central defensive pairing, and James Maxwell occupying the left-back role.
In midfield, the double pivot will consist of Owen Bailey and George Broadbent, who will be tasked with shielding the defence and distributing the ball effectively. Luke Molyneux, Rob Street, and Ethan Ennis will form the attacking midfield trio, providing creativity and support for the lone striker.
Leading the line for Doncaster Rovers will be Joe Ironside, whose physical presence and finishing ability will be crucial in exploiting any weaknesses in Crystal Palace’s backline.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sharman-Lowe; Sterry, McGrath, Olowu, Maxwell; Bailey, Broadbent; Molyneux, Street, Ennis; Ironside
Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner has hinted at a possible debut for Ben Chilwell, who joined the Eagles on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day. However, the left-back is likely to feature as a substitute rather than starting the match.
There is some uncertainty surrounding the availability of Chris Richards, as the defender is recovering from an illness. Meanwhile, the rarely-seen Matheus Franca could make the squad, though Eddie Nketiah remains a significant doubt after twisting his ankle in training.
The Eagles will also be without several key players for this FA Cup tie. Nathaniel Clyne is unlikely to feature due to a knock, while Eberechi Eze (foot), Chadi Riad (knee), and Cheick Doucoure (knee) have all been ruled out. These absences will force Glasner to rotate his squad, with some younger players potentially given an opportunity.
Crystal Palace are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Matt Turner starting in goal. The defensive trio will consist of Maxence Lacroix on the right, Chris Richards in the centre should he recover in time and Marc Guehi on the left. This setup provides both defensive solidity and the ability to build from the back.
The wing-back roles will see Caleb Kporha operating on the right flank, offering attacking width and defensive support, while Tyrick Mitchell will patrol the left side. In midfield, Will Hughes and Justin Devenny will form the central pairing, tasked with controlling possession and breaking up opposition attacks.
Further forward, Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze will play in the attacking midfield positions, providing creativity and pace to link midfield and attack. Leading the line will be Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose physicality and goal-scoring instincts will make him the focal point of Palace’s attack.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Turner; Lacroix, Richards, Guehi; Kporha, Hughes, Devenny, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta
Key Stats
- This will be the first meeting between Doncaster Rovers and Crystal Palace in any competition since their 2018/19 FA Cup fifth-round clash, where Palace emerged victorious with a 2-0 win at the Keepmoat Stadium.
- Crystal Palace have won four of their last five FA Cup away games against teams from Yorkshire. Their only defeat in this run was a 1-0 loss to Leeds United in January 1997.
- Doncaster Rovers have been eliminated from their last seven FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents, with their last victory in such a scenario coming in the 1984/85 third round, when they defeated QPR 1-0.
- Crystal Palace have won their last 11 FA Cup matches against teams from the fourth tier or lower, with their last defeat to such an opponent occurring in 1978, when they lost 2-1 to Hartlepool United.
- Doncaster are seeking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for just the second time in 68 years. The last time they achieved this feat was in the 2018/19 season, where they were eliminated by Crystal Palace.
Player to Watch
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Against fourth-tier Doncaster’s backline, his strength and composure in front of goal could prove decisive. Mateta’s movement off the ball also makes him a dangerous asset, as he looks to exploit defensive gaps created by Palace’s creative players like Ismaïla Sarr and Ademola Esse.
Having already played a crucial role in Palace’s recent success, Mateta will be keen to add to his goal tally and help his side progress further in the competition. His ability to lead the line effectively and deliver in critical moments makes him the focal point of Palace’s attack.
Against a Doncaster Rovers side aiming to pull off a giant-killing, Mateta’s experience and sharpness in front of goal could be the difference between a hard-fought victory and a potential upset. Expect him to be at the heart of Palace’s attacking efforts on Monday.
Prediction
Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Crystal Palace
While Doncaster’s home form and cup heroics make them a dangerous opponent, Crystal Palace’s superior quality, defensive solidity, and recent form give them a significant edge. The Eagles are unlikely to underestimate their lower-league hosts, especially under Glasner’s meticulous management.
Expect Doncaster Rovers to show fight and determination, but Palace’s attacking firepower and clinical finishing should see them through to the next round. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Oliver Glasner and his charges.
