Doncaster vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Mateta the man to inspire the Eagles

Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Manchester United last weekend and, with them 12th in the Premier League, losing just one of their last seven games, can afford to have a real run at the FA Cup.

Eberechi Eze scored the only goal in their third-round victory over League 1 Stockport County and the Londoners next head to League 2 Doncaster Rovers' Eco-Power Stadium on Monday (19:45, BBC iPlayer). Read on for my Doncaster vs Crystal Palace prediction, supported by team news and match odds.

Rovers were the penalty shootout victors over Championship Hull City and their players appeared to have one eye on this fourth-round tie as they went down 5-2 at Chesterfield on Thursday.

Grant McCann's side had won four in a row before that and Donny last reached the fifth round in 2018/19. Ironically, they lost 2-0 to Palace on that occasion but may have a more significant impact on Monday, albeit in defeat.

Team News

Doncaster may have lost at Chesterfield but emerged unscathed on the injury front and the main focus will be whether McCann selects 39-year-old striker Billy Sharp or Joe Ironside, who scored late on in the week, up front.

Football Odds

Eze (foot) won't be his side's match-winner for a second straight round, Chadi Riad (knee) and Cheick Doucoure (knee) are also out, while Nathaniel Clyne is a doubt with a knock.

On-loan Ben Chilwell could make his debut, but Eddie Nketiah may miss a rare chance to start due to an ankle problem picked up in training.

Doncaster vs Crystal Palace Odds

Doncaster are 10/1 to win in regulation time, implying a 9.1% chance of success, with the draw - which would send the tie to extra time - 5/1 and Palace 1/4 (80%). The pair's last meeting finished 2-0 to the Eagles, a result that is 11/2 to be repeated here.

Crystal Palace to win and both teams to score @ 9/5

Palace have a real chance to have a run in this competition and the draw has been kind to them after first facing the Hatters and now Rovers.

Their recent run suggests that after a fine end to last season, a busy summer of comings and goings, and a tough start to the campaign, Oliver Glasner is now getting his ideas across and the players he wants on the field fit and firing.

Monday's match won't be entirely one-sided, with Rovers in good form and sure to try and satisfy an expectant crowd and they could be good for a goal.

However, the Eagles are a quality outfit and should come through an awkward contest.

Jean Philippe-Mateta to score two or more goals @ 9/2

Nketiah looked a contender to start and possibly score a third cup goal of the season - his two previous strikes came in the EFL Cup - but his untimely ankle issue makes him a doubt.

That means Jean-Philippe Mateta is almost guaranteed to start and will probably have been knocking on Glasner's door to get himself in the side after scoring both goals in the win at Old Trafford.

Mateta has excelled since Glasner's appointment just under a year ago, netting a combined 31 times for the Eagles and France, for whom he played at the Olympics.

The 27-year-old can be unstoppable and has the physicality and skill to expose flaws in the Doncaster defence.

For the hosts, look for Luke Molyneux, who is 4/1 in the anytime market.

He netted at Chesterfield to take his recent tally to five goals in six, including the opener against Hull.

Offers

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