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Crystal Palace went one step closer to the FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers on Sunday ensuring they progressed to the quarter-finals – a feat manager Roy Hodgson has achieved just twice previously in all of his years in the dugout.
First-half goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Max Meyer proved decisive although the Eagles could have been out of sight had referee Mike Dean been inclined to award the visitors a penalty.
Two handball incidents were dismissed by Dean, with the second in particular sending the Selhurst Park faithful into outrage. First, Rovers’ Danny Andrew appeared to swing his arm at Scott Dann’s header, before Blackburn loanee Paul Downing blocked Patrick van Aanholt’s cutback with his left-arm.
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Play continued in both instances, with Downing comically holding his face after making contact with his hand and Palace would surely have been furious had their hosts capitalised on their second-half domination – Alfie May looked likely to score and Wayne Hennessey cast an unassured figure between the sticks.
Nevertheless, the win sees the south London outfit through to the last eight of the competition and, with bitter rivals Brighton also emerging victorious in their cup clash with Derby, there could be a spicy fixture to come.
Here’s how Palace fans on Twitter reacted to Mike Dean’s clanger…