Crystal Palace avoided becoming another Premier League scalp as they eased to a 2-0 win at Doncaster in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
In the fifth round draw, Sky Bet Championship strugglers Plymouth – who caused a massive upset when knocking Premier League leaders Liverpool out on Sunday – were handed a dream trip to Manchester City.
Tuesday night’s action will see City meet Real Madrid again in the Champions League play-offs, while Sky Bet League One Exeter host Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest in the last of the FA Cup fourth round ties.
Eagles avoid Doncaster banana skin
Sky Bet League Two side Doncaster were the lowest-ranked team left in the competition – but faced an uphill battle after Daniel Munoz gave the Eagles a first-half lead from a well-worked free-kick.
Northern Ireland international Justin Devenny then missed a tap-in before eventually getting a second with a neat lobbed finish in the 55th minute from Will Hughes’ chipped pass.
Rovers had seen 39-year-old Billy Sharp restored to the side to lead the attack, but failed to make the most of their own opportunities with Luke Molyneux firing over the bar from 20 yards late on.
Pilgrims off to the Etihad
Plymouth had dumped Liverpool out after Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty gave them a memorable 1-0 win at Home Park.
The Pilgrims will now head to the Etihad Stadium for a last-16 tie against the seven-time FA Cup winners, who had to come from behind to beat Leyton Orient 2-1 on Saturday.
Holders Manchester United – having edged past Leicester at Old Trafford with a controversial late header from Harry Maguire, who looked to be offside – were drawn at home to Fulham.
Other all-Premier League ties see Bournemouth face Wolves, while Brighton – who came from behind to beat Chelsea – are at Carabao Cup finalists Newcastle.
Cardiff travel to Aston Villa, north-west rivals Preston will host Burnley, Palace have a south London derby against Millwall, while Ipswich await the winners of Exeter and Nottingham Forest.
In the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Queen’s Park’s reward for winning at Rangers is a quarter-final tie at Aberdeen.
City ready to get Real, again
Manchester City and Real Madrid have become regular foes at the business end of the Champions League in recent seasons, but will meet again in this year’s play-off round, with the first leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
It is the fifth time City have been paired with Real in a knockout tie during Pep Guardiola’s tenure – and the fourth year in succession.
City have prevailed twice, most memorably in the semi-finals en route to their eventual victory in the competition two years ago, with Real winning the other two, including in last year’s quarter-finals.
Guardiola’s side have found themselves in the play-off round after an underwhelming league phase in which they limped into 22nd place.
“We deserve to be where we are. The draw is the draw and we accept the challenge,” the City boss said.
“But always in this type of draw and competition, I am so optimistic and calm. We’ll see what happens.
“I will not deny the trust with the players that gave us the incredible decade to play at the high standards I know we’re capable of.”
Grecians out to fell Forest
Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth is relishing another chance to silence his doubters when the Grecians host Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night in the League One side’s first FA Cup fourth-round appearance in 44 years.
The 20-year-old Crystal Palace loanee is no stranger to the underdog role, having made his Premier League debut against Brighton as the Eagles’ third-choice keeper during March 2023.
“It is a game I am going to look to relish and hopefully performing, especially with our team as well,” Whitworth told the PA news agency.
“Our focus is the next round. It’s obviously going to be really tough and you have to respect the opponents and what they are doing at this moment in time.
“But we are going to go out there with full confidence and hopefully win the game. It is definitely what we want to do.”
What’s on today?
Having failed to qualify automatically for place in the last 16 of the Champions League, European heavyweights City and Real go head to head again at Etihad Stadium in the play-offs, while the FA Cup fourth round schedule finishes off with Exeter against Forest.
There is also midweek action in the Championship, with leaders Leeds at Watford, while League One pacesetters Birmingham continue their promotion push at home against bottom side Cambridge.
Ahead of Wednesday’s rearranged Premier League Merseyside derby, both Liverpool boss Arne Slot and Everton manager David Moyes will be speaking at press conferences.
Published: by Radio NewsHub
