Doncaster vs Crystal Palace - Preview, Best Bets & H2H Record
- JN Value Betting
- Feb 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 10
BEST BETS:
DONCASTER ROVERS - TO HAVE 9+ SHOTS - 1/1 (PADDY POWER) - 1.5PTS
DONCASTER ROVERS - TO HAVE 12+ SHOTS - 7/2 (PADDY POWER) - 0.5PTS
DONCASTER ROVERS - TO HAVE 16+ SHOTS - 16/1 (PADDY POWER) - 0.5PTS
JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA - TO SCORE ANYTIME - 6/5 (UNIBET) - 2PTS
JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA - TO SCORE 2+ GOALS - 5/1 (PADDY POWER) - 0.5PTS
JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA - TO SCORE A HAT-TRICK - 25/1 (PADDY POWER) - 0.5PTS
The importance of the FA Cup was clear for Oliver Glasner in the Third Round when he fielded a very strong side against League One Stockport County, his side earned a workmanlike victory to secure their place in this round. Given the way the competition has opened up, the importance of this match will have only grown as the weekend has progressed. Just both Manchester clubs remain from the traditional 'Big Six', and this presents a great opportunity for a side such as Crystal Palace. The 2015/16 runners-up will hope to replicate their run once again this season, and they'll fancy their chances against lower league opposition. Much like their Third Round tie, they could have had easier opponents than what they have been drawn, Grant McCann's Doncaster currently occupy the last automatic promotion spot in League Two and will be hoping to capitalise on the good form that started 12 months ago.
A home tie will give Doncaster hopes that they can cause an upset, and I back them to ensure this Palace side do not have it all their own way. Rovers have had at least nine shots in 17 of their 18 home matches this campaign, with them having at least 12 in all but three of those 18 matches - including all of their last 12. They've even managed 16+ shots in eight of those last twelve. They face a Palace side who are averaging 12.52 shots faced this season, and therefore I am happy to get stuck in on the prices for Doncaster to have 9, 12 and 16+ shots.
Oliver Glasner made just give changes in the last round win over Stockport, and I would imagine there will be a similar number of changes made here. However, there is a high chance that he will not be able to introduce Eddie Nketiah into the starting lineup with him suffering an injury in training, leaving him as a major doubt for this one. Given the chance of Nketiah not lining up, there is a chance he will stick with top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Frenchman has scored 13 goals in his 2,180 minutes this season, with six of those coming in his last five matches - this included two braces (vs West Ham and Man United). He has managed at least two goals in four of his nine scoring appearances this season, and I'd back that to continue should he get the nod here. Mateta has scored in two of his three appearances against lower league opposition across the last two seasons, and on both of those occasions, scored at least twice (a brace vs Norwich - EFL Cup 24/25 & a hat-trick vs Plymouth - EFL Cup 23/24).
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
LAST 5 MATCHES:
17/02/2019 - Doncaster 0-2 CRYSTAL PALACE (FA Cup)
27/03/2012 - Crystal Palace 1-1 Doncaster (Championship)
24/09/2011 - DONCASTER 1-0 Crystal Palace (Championship)
22/04/2011 - Doncaster 0-0 Crystal Palace (Championship) 27/11/2010 - CRYSTAL PALACE 1-0 Doncaster (Championship)
