Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Crystal Palace: Jeffrey Schlupp, Max Meyer secure FA Cup quarter-final spot

Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with an assured 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers.

Jeffrey Schlupp scored on the counter-attack to give the visitors the lead in the eighth minute at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Max Meyer added a second with almost the last kick of the first half and the League One side could not recover.

Alfie May spurned Doncaster's best chance when he headed over from close range, but otherwise Palace held firm to book their place in Monday's quarter-final draw.

The last time Palace reached the last eight was in 2015/16 when they went all the way to the final.

Doncaster have never reached the quarter-finals and their hopes of an upset suffered an early setback when Palace countered and Schlupp finished with a deflected shot across goal.

The home side did not change their approach and continued to pass the ball around nicely, but they struggled to create clear chances.

May curled an effort wide while Herbie Kane toe-poked a shot at Wayne Hennessey.

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Palace had two decent penalty appeals for handball turned down by Mike Dean, but took control of the game with a second goal deep into first-half injury-time.

Luka Milivojevic scooped a pass over the top and Andros Townsend headed across goal for Meyer to finish from a few yards out.

While the goal put Palace firmly in control, Doncaster had their best spell at the start of the second half.

Ben Whiteman saw a swerving shot saved by Hennessey before May headed over from close range with John Marquis waiting behind to nod home.

Palace withstood the pressure and spurned chances to extend their lead as Michy Batshuayi's touch let him down when played through and Cheikhou Kouyate headed wide from a corner.

Opta stats

• Crystal Palace have won away at Doncaster for the first time since August 1960, ending a six-game winless run in all competitions (D2 L4).
• Crystal Palace have reached the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup for the second time in the last four seasons; as many as in their previous 33 campaigns.
• Doncaster haven't beaten top-flight opposition in the FA Cup since January 1985 (1-0 vs QPR), drawing two and losing six since.
• Crystal Palace have scored in their last nine games in all competitions, their longest run since netting in 10 successive games in March 2016.
• No Crystal Palace player has provided more goals (7) or assists (4) than Andros Townsend in all competitions this season.
• Jeffrey Schlupp has scored five goals in all competitions for Crystal Palace this season; his most in a single campaign since 2011-12 (six for Leicester).

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Man of the match - Luka Milivojevic

Milivojevic was a calming presence in midfield for Palace and played a key role in the second goal as he lifted the ball over the top for Townsend to head across goal.

What's next?

Palace travel to Leicester in the Premier League next Saturday before hosting Manchester United on Wednesday, February 27.

Doncaster continue their League One promotion push with trips to Scunthorpe (February 23) and Shrewsbury (February 26).

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