Vintage Hodgson
Palace coach targets Cup glory as oldest top-flight manager
Roy Hodgson is now officially the oldest manager in Premier League history, and perhaps this could also prove a vintage year for Crystal Palace.
Hodgson surpassed Sir Bobby Robson yesterday, taking this game at the grand old age of 71 years and 192 days, and optimism will only build that he can finally progress past an FA Cup quarter-final.
Palace are into the last eight after comfortably negotiating their way past capable opponents in League One Doncaster Rovers, yet this competition has proven a frequent source of frustration for the manager during a coaching career spanning four decades.
Twice he reached this stage with Fulham and suffered defeat, so all eyes will be on tonight’s draw after goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Max Meyer ensured an easy afternoon for their record-breaking manager.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are, I’m always nervous, apprehensive and anxious about every game we play, whether it’s a fifth-round tie against Doncaster or a Premier League game at Old Trafford,” said Hodgson (right).
“Our priority is always to stay in the league and, in this competition, you will eventually meet one of the big teams. It’s good that we are in the quarter-finals, I am very proud of that. There was no complacency from us and I’m delighted to have come through on the right side.
“We’ve got to be happy, these games are real banana skins because people don’t give Doncaster Rovers and these kind of teams the credit they should. We did, I said they would be tough and we were ready for it.”
This had all the ingredients for a potentially awkward tie, with Doncaster in contention for a return to the Championship and possessing a formidable home record.
Rovers had not lost at the Keepmoat Stadium since Oct 23, winning eight of their previous 10 games here, and manager Grant Mccann’s plans will have revolved around not conceding an early goal. Sadly for the home team, that strategy went awry after eight minutes.
Palace had not even threatened until Schlupp picked up the ball on the halfway line, evaded one challenge and advanced towards the penalty area before driving a low shot across Marko Marosi into the bottom corner. There appeared to be a slight deflection, but it was poor Rovers defending and a hammer blow to their hopes of an upset.
Doncaster’s James Coppinger was making his 609th appearance for the club and proving influential as the home team responded. Palace were at times hesitant under pressure and Rovers striker Alfie May nearly capitalised in the 22nd minute, finding space outside the area and bending a shot wide.
On the run: Jeffrey Schlupp breaks clear to score Crystal Palace’s opener (top) while Doncaster salute their fans Palace did threaten sporadically on the counter-attack, and should have been awarded a penalty when defender Paul Downing clearly handled Patrick van Aanholt’s cross in the area.
But they effectively killed off the game in first-half injury time with a goal of brutal simplicity. Luka Milivojevic’s lofted pass released Andros Townsend in the area and his headed cross presented an easy chance for Meyer, who could not miss from almost on the goal-line.
Doncaster remained spirited and May headed over from four yards early in the second half, before Coppinger sent a shot wide from outside the area. Palace eventually snuffed out Rovers’ resolve and could have added more goals as darkness fell and the catalogue of Wembley songs got an airing from their 3,000 fans. Palace are assured of only their second appearance in 24 years in the last eight. Doncaster’s focus will be exclusively on promotion, as they sit sixth in their division. Mccann said: “We played the game really well, but we saw the difference with a Premier League team. “I thought we matched them for large periods, but if you give players of that standard those chances it will be hard. The goal before the break took the wind out of our sails a bit.
“We have come off that field with our heads held high,” he added. “This will give us confidence for the play-offs, the league is the most important thing. This was an added bonus for us and we now have to quickly get over it.”