DONCASTER .... 0 C.PALACE ........ 2
THE grand old man of English football has never come close to leading out a side in the FA Cup Final.
But on the day he succeeded the late, great Sir Bobby Robson as the oldest-ever Premier League manager, Roy Hodgson masterminded a fifth-round win for only the third time in his long managerial career.
At 71 years and 192 days, the former England boss has to watch his ticker but there were few heart-stopping moments against a Doncaster side who were never able to translate their league form on to this stage.
Rovers had not gone this far since 1956. But their hopes of a first-ever quarter-final appearance were dashed on eight minutes and then again on 45 by Jeffrey Schlupp and Max Meyer.
For Hodgson and his soaring Eagles, the cup has come alive. The only previous occasion in the past 24 years they have gone this far – since losing to Manchester United in the semis in 1995 – they reached the 2016 final.
But Hodgson is too long in the tooth to get all giddy at the thought.
“The fact is we are a team between the middle and the bottom of the table,” he said.
“Sooner or later, we’re going to meet a Manchester City or the winners of Chelsea versus Manchester United, and then we’ll have a real tough tie on our hands. We’re happy to still be in the draw but our priority and our focus remains the same.
“We would like to do well in the cup but we’d like even more to stay in the Premier League.”
Palace targeted their opponents’ right flank and so it was no surprise the opener stemmed from that channel.
Skipper Luka Milivojevic broke up play to feed Schlupp, who set off from the halfway line, beat Paul Downing on his outside before firing left-footed across Marko Marosi into the far corner.
It was an eventful opening period for Downing, whose acting skills were no better than some of his defending.
He was fortunate not to concede a penalty in the 37th minute when he slid in to cut out Patrick van Aanholt’s cross with the ball clearly hitting his arm.
Downing then proceeded to rub his head in a desperate attempt to fool referee Mike Dean.
Whether it did or not, he got off with it.
Palace’s second came in first-half injury time and it was superbly crafted.
Milivojevic’s weighted chip found Andros Townsend, whose controlled header dropped into the path of Meyer, who had the simple task of nodding home from point-blank range.
Palace looked dangerous whenever they broke into the final third, with loan striker Michy Batshuayi, on his first start, having a powerful header blocked and Marosi denying Jordan Ayew at his near post.
But there were times when the League One side showed the attacking prowess which had brought them 31 goals in their previous 10 home games.
Though top scorer John Marquis was kept quiet, Alfie May swerved an effort wide, while James Coppinger, 38, with 609 appearances for Doncaster behind him, saw one goal-bound drive cannon off team-mate Tom Anderson.
Ben Whiteman then tested Wayne Hennessey from distance while May headed over from three yards.
But once Palace weathered that storm, they held out with ease.
“The boys can go home with their heads held high,” said Rovers boss Grant McCann.
“We were beaten by a good team but we matched them for long periods.”