Bright South Yorkshire sunshine greeted the two teams as they entered the arena in front of a large 14,010 attendance at the Keepmoat Stadium including over 3,000 fans who had made the long journey from South London.

The home team made two changes from the side that comfortably despatched Southend in midweek with Alfie May coming in for the suspended Malik Wilks & defender Matty Blair preferred to Arron Lewis at Right Back. The Eagles made six changes to the team that drew with West Ham with keeper Hennesey, defenders Joel Ward & Scott Dann, German midfielder Max Meyer & forward Jordan Ayew with the latter replacing the suspended Wilfred Zaha.

The game’s opening exchanges were understandably cagey but all that ended on eight minutes when the Premier League side scored with their first attack. Luka Milivojevic won the ball & passed to Jefferey Schlupp on halfway, the ex-Leicester man charged forward &  buried a low shot past Rovers keeper Marosi from the edge of the area to give Palace the edge.

Rovers tried to respond and despite forcing Palace back and winning a number of unsuccessful corners they didn’t really do enough to hurt the Premier League side who were expertly marshalled by the vastly experienced Dann. The closest they came was on 20 minutes when a goalbound Herbie Kane effort was blocked en route to goal.

Palace comfortably rode out Rovers efforts to gradually regain the initiative & Donny were perhaps a little fortunate not to concede a penalty on 27 minutes when a Dann header was blocked by the arm of Rovers defender Paul Downing which, in my opinion, was accidental as the defender was sliding at the time. A tame Ayew effort was comfortably held by Marosi before the Eagles were coasting following a second goal on the stroke of half time, a superb lofted ball by Milijvojevic released Andros Townsend in the area who headed back across the six yard box for Meyer to convert with ease.

HALF TIME: DONNY 0 PALACE 2

Palace new boy Batshuayi who was largely anonymous in the first half rifled a shot just over the bar in the second period’s first attack before Rovers showed some attacking intent of their own when, firstly, midfielder Ben Whiteman had an effort well saved by Hennesey then a header from defender Paul Downing went close.

The Rovers fans were getting behind their side now & on the hour a great run & shot from distance from Rovers evergreen midfielder James Coppinger went just over the bar. After these Rovers efforts the game entered a quiet phase with both defences looking solid before a ball over the top from Palace sub James McArthur released Batshuayi who was denied by a smart stop from Marosi on 82 minutes.

Rovers’ top scorer, the largely disappointing John Marquis, fashioned himself a chance moments later but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Hennesey. The final few minutes were managed with no problem by the Premier League side who deservedly booked their passage into the quarterfinals. Rovers battled well but must now concentrate on securing a League One play-off berth.

FULL TIME: DONNY 0 PALACE 2

words Ian Bradley, D3D4 roving reporter