GEORGE ELEK: Finding Value in The Monday Night Football FA Cup Game

Right we’re back to the FA Cup where games kick-off at various times and on various days. Take any moment after midday on Saturday and the chances are that an FA Cup game is either about to kick-off or has just finished.

The reward for maintaining interest after no less than three all Premier League televised clashes is Monday night’s offering, which has all the makings of an FA Cup classic.

Doncaster are flying high in 2nd in League Two, although a mid-week 5-2 defeat at Chesterfield maybe wasn’t the best preparation for the visit of a Premier League side. In truth that scoreline flattered their clinical opponents on the night, and the four wins in a row that preceded it, as well as the penalties win at Hull in the previous round, all serve as evidence that this won’t be an easy night for Palace.

Having said that, manager Oliver Glasner put out a strong side in the last round when seeing off a tricky opponent in Stockport. That Ebere Eze opened the scoring that day maybe serves as an indication of how seriously we can expect Palace to treat the competition, more as a genuine chance of winning a trophy rather than some sort of distraction.

Where Doncaster have come unstuck this season has been in home games against better opposition in League Two. In their seven games against fellow top-half sides they have only won one, and that was last week against MK Dons, who are on a downward spiral.

Despite struggling to win these games they’ve scored in all but one, so it’s the defensive side of things that is their issue rather than not carrying an attacking threat. It would be no surprise if this game follows the same trend, with Donny finding the back of the next but still coming unstuck against a side with infinitely more quality.

Matt Turner had to make some good saves to keep Stockport at bay in the last round and I’d be surprised if the same wasn’t the case here. Palace to win and both teams to score is 9/5, which looks a great way to get the Premier League on side while giving Doncaster the respect they deserve.

1pt Crystal Palace to win and BTTS @ 9/5