Key events
Richard Hirst gets in touch: “If Palace lose tonight Fulham will be the only London Premier League side in the last 16 – glory days!”
The FA Cup fifth round draw
Preston v Burnley
Aston Villa v Cardiff City
Doncaster or Crystal Palace v Millwall
Manchester United v Fulham
Newcastle United v Brighton
Bournemouth v Wolves
Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle
Exeter or Nottingham Forest v Ipswich
2) Doncaster Rovers (1997-98)
The free market rules in English football, which means pretty much anyone with a bit of spare cash can buy themselves a club. Some teams find their perfect match, a steady hand on the tiller that unleashes a club’s true potential. Doncaster got Ken Richardson. Under his ownership, Rovers lost their league status, their main stand to a suspicious fire, and their dignity.
Personal note: I attended Belle Vue in 1999 for a pre-season match with Manchester City, featuring a teenage Shaun Wright-Phillips. The away end was essentially a grass bank.
Billy Sharp, at one point the top scorer in English football in the 21st century, starts up front for Donny. Oliver Glasner ain’t no Slot, and he’s made just three changes from Old Trafford. Matt Turner’s in goal, with Adam Wharton and Justin Devenny the other changes. Chilwell watch: he’s on the bench.
The teams
Doncaster: Sharman-Lowe, Sterry, Olowu, Anderson, Maxwell, Broadbent, Bailey, Molyneux, Sharp, Ennis, Street. Subs: Lawlor, Sbarra, Gibson, Nixon, Ironside, Kelly, Senior, Westbrooke, Crew.
Crystal Palace: Turner, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Kamada, Devenny, Mateta. Subs: Henderson, Matthews, Lerma, Franca, Clyne, Esse, Chilwell, Kporha.
Referee: Farai Hallam (Surrey)
The Donny manager, Grant McCann, is a good egg.
Louise Taylor speaks to Doncaster’s hitman, FA Cup legend and journeyman.
Preamble
So then, Donny, the mic is passed by Plymouth to see if they can continue a round of shocks. The stage is set at the Keepmoat, usually host to football in League Two, where Grant McCann’s men carry the flag for Yorkshire. South Yorkshire, to be precise. McCann is in his second spell at Rovers has experience of facing Premier League clubs. He’s promised his team will have a go, and if they follow the lead of Leyton Orient and the mighty Argyle, who knows will happen? Palace, doing fine in the Premier League, might rest a few from a squad that is not the strongest. So, who knows? It’s why we’re here, right?
Kick-off at 7.45pm. Join me.
