'Stakes in league matches likely to lessen... but magic of the cup is alive'published at 12:18 11 February
12:18 11 February
Alex Pewter Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
As always, no style points are handed out in the FA Cup. No extra credit is awarded for knocking out the biggest sides in the competition.
As cliched as it is, regarding the greatest domestic cup competition in football, Crystal Palace have achieved just that - making it to the fifth round for the first time in three seasons.
After getting past League One Stockport County in January, Oliver Glasner and his team navigated a Monday night trip to South Yorkshire with a 2-0 win over League Two Doncaster Rovers.
Not a classic for the neutral, but as the current Premier League leaders showed on Sunday, you cannot take anything for granted in a one-off encounter.
Eleven Premier League teams entered the fifth-round draw - 10 confirmed so far, with Nottingham Forest playing on Tuesday. The draw now means three top-flight teams are guaranteed to be out after the next set of fixtures - four if it is Forest who play Ipswich.
The draw is opening up very nicely for those remaining, and Glasner is a manager taking this competition seriously, as he did the Carabao Cup.
Of course, despite avoiding Premier League sides again, the added fire to the next match is the challenge posed by a south London derby against Millwall.
Having had a 37-year gap between FA Cup clashes, this is the second in three years - much like London buses or, more aptly, trains on the Windrush line headed to Norwood Junction.
Because of the team's current comfortable standing in the Premier League and the predicament of the bottom-four teams, the stakes in league matches are likely to lessen as the weeks drift by.
However, the magic of the cup is still alive in south London, only three weeks away, and will be eagerly anticipated.
'Wharton looked like a Rolls-Royce' - fans on cup win at Doncasterpublished at 08:33 11 February
08:33 11 February
Media caption,
Munoz & Devenny fire Palace past Doncaster
We asked for your thoughts after Monday's FA Cup game between Doncaster and Crystal Palace.
Here are some of your comments:
Gareth: An overall good performance from Palace. Great to see Oliver Glasner take it seriously with his line-up, as it didn't always feel like Roy Hodgson did the same. It was fantastic for Adam Wharton, who was excellent, and great to see a return for Matheus Franca, who hopefully can remain fit and show why we paid £25m. Will Hughes deserved MOTM. Millwall next for a tasty fifth-round game. COYP.
Glen: A solid performance. Hopefully we can smash Millwall in the next round and start to dream.
James: Efficient performance from the boys on what could have been a banana skin of a pitch. Wharton looked like a Rolls-Royce, Justin Devenny was class and Hughes pinned it all together - plus, a tidy debut for Ben Chilwell. All in all, a good night's work.
Gary: Comfortable for Palace and a classy goal from Devenney, but we didn't really click up front. Great to see Wharton back with a good performance - you can see his class. Matthew Turner's distribution was very poor at times. I thought Hughes was great in midfield. Our next five games are in London, so let's hope we can push on up the table and go to the next round of the cup.
Alex: A disciplined, professional performance. Really happy that the cup is being taken seriously (especially after this weekend's upsets!) and hoping another trip to Wembley later this season is on the cards. Hughes MOTM - effortless yet again and makes the midfield tick.
Al: We handled Doncaster well. Wharton looked a class above and Hughes was the standout player. Another away win keeps the confidence high. The back three of Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi are proving to be a tough act to break down.
Palace players excited about facing Milwall - Glasnerpublished at 07:53 11 February
07:53 11 February
Image source, Getty Images
Oliver Glasner says the FA Cup fifth round is even more special now that Crystal Palace have drawn Milwall.
The Eagles will be hoping for a similar result to the last time the two sides met in the FA Cup - a 2-1 victory at the Den in January 2022.
"I could feel the excitement in the dressing room," Glasner said after Monday's victory at Doncaster Rovers. "It makes this game even bigger than it is.
"As long as you are in the competition you can win it. We will go for it. I don't know if it will work, but we will go for it - definitely.
"I'm pleased with the performance [against Doncaster]. Over the first 60 minutes I think we controlled the game and didn't give them anything.
"We wanted to give Ben [Chilwell] some minutes. We could see he's comfortable in possession, in passing - a little bit more attacking than [Tyrick Mitchell]."
Doncaster 0-2 Crystal Palace: Efficient Eagles advancepublished at 22:28 10 February
22:28 10 February
Steve Sutcliffe BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner played down talk of a trip to Wembley before his side's visit to Doncaster but it will firmly be on his radar now.
Having watched a largely second-string Liverpool tumble out of the FA Cup on Sunday and witnessed the likes of League One Leyton Orient give Manchester City a scare, the Austrian selected a strong starting XI and was rewarded with an efficient performance.
The Eagles simply had too much quality for a side 58 places below them in the English football pyramid and on a wet and windy evening in South Yorkshire there were also plenty of other positives for him.
Midfielder Adam Wharton lasted over an hour as he continued his return to full match fitness after a long lay-off.
And he also had the opportunity to introduce exciting teenage winger Romain Esse from the bench and give on-loan left-back Ben Chilwell his first taste of senior football since September, after he was frozen out at Chelsea.
Ask our pundit: Send in your questions for Nedum Onuohapublished at 18:26 10 February
18:26 10 February
Is there something you want to ask about a Premier League club?
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha is ready to answer your burning questions and give his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points for a special Q&A.
Gossip: Atletico register Mateta interestpublished at 07:47 10 February
07:47 10 February
Atletico Madrid are interested in signing 27-year-old Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose deal with the Eagles runs out in 2026. (Teamtalk), external
However, Lyon owner John Textor - who is a major shareholder at Crystal Palace - wants his Ligue 1 side to bid for £50m-rated Mateta. (Sun), external
Crystal Palace have earmarked Burnley's 22-year-old defender Maxime Esteve and Middlesbrough's 20-year-old defender Rav van den Berg as potential replacements for Marc Guehi. (Sun), external
Doncaster v Crystal Palace: Did you know?published at 14:17 9 February
14:17 9 February
Image source, Getty Images
This will be the first meeting between Doncaster Rovers and Crystal Palace since the 2018-19 FA Cup fifth round, with the Eagles winning 2-0 at Keepmoat Stadium.
Doncaster's Bailey relishing Wharton prospectpublished at 19:12 8 February
19:12 8 February
Media caption,
Ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie with Crystal Palace, Doncaster Rovers midfielder Owen Bailey tells The Football News Show why he's looking forward to pitting himself against England's Adam Wharton.
When is the FA Cup fifth-round draw?published at 08:11 8 February
08:11 8 February
Image source, Getty Images
The fifth-round draw will take place during Monday's episode of The One Show on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Former England winger Theo Walcott, who won the trophy twice while with Arsenal, will conduct the draw at about 19:10 GMT.
There are 16 Premier League teams left in the draw, with Leicester having been beaten by Manchester United on Friday, and Arsenal, Brentford and West Ham exiting in the third round.
Can Chilwell rediscover Champions League-winning form?published at 18:41 7 February
18:41 7 February
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
"He played wing-back under Thomas Tuchel when they [Chelsea] won the Champions League," Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner pointed out about loan signing Ben Chilwell at his Friday news conference
It is easy to forget this fact, or overlook that it only happened three-and-a-half years ago in May 2021.
When Chilwell arrived in west London in August 2020, he had a reputation as one of the country's most exciting young defenders. Having made his England debut in September 2018, he was earmarked as a possible Three Lions left-back for years to come.
A player always conditioned more to attack than defend, Chilwell assisted from the bench on his Chelsea debut in a League Cup win over Barnsley, then scored and assisted on his Premier League debut for the club against Palace.
That season, across 42 appearances, Chilwell scored four times and assisted seven more, and formed part of the best defence in Europe following Tuchel's appointment in January.
They conceded just eight goals in 18 league games between his arrival - a mere two in seven Champions League knockout matches - while Chilwell and fellow full-back Reece James became key outlets in attack.
Indeed, he scored an important goal in the quarter-final win over Porto before largely nullifying Vinicius Junior across two semi-final legs and performing admirably in the final, where Chelsea beat Manchester City.
This momentum continued at the start of the 2021-22 season with Chilwell scoring in three consecutive Premier League games in October. Having netted on the final day of the previous season, it meant he had scored in each of his past four Premier League appearances. He said later that he was competing with James to finish the season as the club's top scorer.
However, his career trajectory changed with a ruptured cruciate ligament injury in November 2021, ending his campaign.
Despite being named vice-captain in August 2023, he has never rediscovered his Champions League-winning form or adjusted to each new Blues manager.
Under Glasner, he will have the opportunity to play in a familiar system and adopt a position of seniority for the first time in several seasons. If he displaces or shifts current incumbent Tyrick Mitchell that is - a point the Austrian emphasised in his news conference.
And he's still only 28, so in theory a return to form would allow plenty of time to rebuild his career.
On an entirely unrelated note, I wonder who the England manager is now...
Glasner wants Palace to take second chance in cup competitionpublished at 16:00 7 February
16:00 7 February
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Oliver Glasner has said that he wants his Crystal Palace side to take their "second chance" in a cup competition this season.
The Eagles reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals but lost 3-2 at Arsenal and Glasner said that that the result "still hurts".
"England is one of the few countries where you have a second chance. We want to take our second chance," said the Austrian.
"We don't think about Wembley, we are focused on Doncaster.
"When you go as a Premier League club to a League Two club it is your responsibility to win this game."
Glasner on Eze injury, Chilwell and Doncasterpublished at 15:14 7 February
15:14 7 February
Tasnim Chowdhury BBC Sport journalist
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Monday's FA Cup fourth round game against Doncaster Rovers (kick-off 19:45 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Glasner said Eddie Nketiah is a doubt after twisting his ankle in training while Eberechi Eze will not be available "because the pain in his foot has to settle down".
Meanwhile, Chris Richards is sick but Glasner is hopeful he will be available. Adam Wharton is "looking sharp and good in training" and Matheus Franca could be brought into the squad earlier than planned as a result of other injuries.
On why Palace signed full-back Ben Chilwell: "It was about who can help us immediately. He played wing-back under Thomas Tuchel when they won the Champions League and he can play in a back four. He is doing really well in training [but] it is a little bit different. The plan is he will get minutes at Doncaster."
On Tottenham's deadline-day bid for Marc Guehi: "It was clear that we can't sell a player on deadline day as we can't find a replacement in a few hours. It is impossible. Credit to the chairman. Crystal Palace has to be number one in all considerations. We lost Trevoh Chalobah and Chadi Riad through injury. There were no negotiations."
On Jean-Philippe Mateta: "He's doing really well and performing well. He scores great goals and he is very important for us. He is hard-working, always available and always in a good mood. He is also working really hard in defending. We have had four clean sheets in the last five games."
On FA Cup opportunities against League Two Doncaster: "We are [only] looking to Doncaster. In a cup competition, it makes no sense thinking about the end. You have to make several steps to lift a trophy. We've watched them and we have big respect for them. They are second in the league and we prepare like we do for any game. It's a bit easier as we have a full week to prepare."
He is therefore not looking too far ahead: "We don't think about Wembley - we are focused on Doncaster. When you go as a Premier League club to a League Two club, it is your responsibility to win this game."
Chilwell signing 'gives Glasner options'published at 16:10 5 February
16:10 5 February
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Ben Chilwell's signing on loan from Chelsea gives Crystal Palace manager some much-needed options down the left side of his team despite the lack of a centre-back in the squad.
Palace are down to the bare bones at centre-back with only Marc Guehi, Chris Richards and Maxence Lacroix fit, after Trevoh Chalobah was recalled by Chelsea and Chadi Riad was ruled out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
In Chilwell's announcement release by the club, it is referenced that Chilwell can play in many positions on the left of defence.
The 28-year-old has spoken himself how he is familiar with playing as a wing-back during his time at Chelsea, most notably in the Blues' 2021 Champions League victory.
Chilwell is more naturally inclined to attack than current left wing-back Tyrick Mitchell.
But also, his arrival means that either he or Mitchell or Chilwell could play as left centre-back to give natural balance to the backline.
However, Palace's back three is one of the strongest parts of their team so a change may seem strange at the moment, but having the option to do it will be a big bonus for Glasner.