Roy’s numbers are adding up
IT IS true the more spins you have the more likely you are to land the jackpot.
But Roy Hodgson will be hoping his extensive experience brings with it an extra edge than probability alone after Crystal Palace eased past Doncaster into the quarter-finals.
Yesterday he became the oldest Premier League manager at 71 years and 192 days, eclipsing Sir Bobby Robson, and has spent 43 years in various dugouts.
The oldest cup competition has not been kind to Hodgson though, his personal high-water marks coming when he guided Fulham to the quarter-finals twice, in 2009 and 2010.
Hodgson sought to play down any expectation after Jeffrey Schlupp and Max Meyer scored first-half goals to put his side through to the last eight.
“The fact is that we are a team between the middle and bottom of the table,” he said. “Sooner or later you are going to meet City or Man United or Chelsea and it is a question of when that happens.
“The next one won’t be easy and our priority and focus remains the same; that we would like to do well in the cup, but like even more to stay in the Premier League.”
Palace were missing Wilfried Zaha after his appeal to have a two-match suspension halved for his red card at Southampton was knocked back. Yet they produced a thoroughly professional display against a decent League One side.
Rovers have been in rude health since the turn of the year, climbing into the final play-off position with six wins and two draws in their past nine games in all competitions.
And with the Keepmoat Stadium gleaming in February sunshine the pitch was immaculate, hardly the ‘leveller’ that a lower-league side lacking self-confidence might produce to mug unsuspecting top-flight opponents.
Doncaster’s ability is not lacking either, with the home side zipping the ball about neatly. Yet the difference between the sides was in execution of the chances they did create.
Palace were ahead after just eight minutes, Luka Milivojevic launching a swift counter-attack that saw Schlupp take the ball from inside his own half to the edge of the area, his shot taking a deflection off Paul Downing’s heel and nestling inside Marko Marosi’s far post.
Doncaster responded well, Alfie May and Liverpool loanee Herbie Kane creating a bit of panic in the Palace rearguard. With Doncaster committed to the search for parity, the quality of Palace’s counters was always likely to prove a problem and the visitors went two up on the stroke of half-time.
They should have had a penalty after 36 minutes when a sliding Downing blocked Patrick van Aanholt’s cross with his hand but, in injury time, a sustained spell of pressure from the Premier League side brought justice.
Milivojevic was once again the architect, chipping to the right byline to Andros Townsend. His cushioned cross-header found Meyer unmarked at the back stick and he nodded in.
Doncaster emerged refreshed and pressed hard until the hour mark. Ben Whiteman had a well-struck shot pushed over, Downing and May very nearly managed to combine to head in the subsequent dead-ball kick only to see the effort go just over. James Coppinger and May had shots put around the post for corners.
Yet as Palace absorbed the pressure, Rovers ran out of steam and belief, a raft of subs adding fresh muscle to the Eagles’ defensive shift.
While Doncaster fell at the same fifth-round hurdle that undid their previous best run in 1955-56, the prospect of a third cup final appearance for Palace and a first semi-final for Hodgson remains intact.
DONCASTER (4-3-3): Marosi; Blair, Downing, Anderson, Andrew; Whiteman, Kane, Crawford (Rowe 64); May (Boocock 89), Marquis, Coppinger (Sadlier 64). Booked: Whiteman.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Hennessy; Ward, Dann, Kelly, Van Aanholt; Townsend (McArthur 80), Milivojevic, Meyer, Schlupp; Ayew (Kouyate 60), Batshuayi (Benteke 75). Goals: Schlupp 8, Meyer 45.
Referee: M Dean (Wirrall).