While Oliver Glasner might not be a candidate for Premier League Manager of the Year, he has transformed Crystal Palace into a formidable team after a sluggish start to the season.
The South London club began their campaign with only three points from draws in their first eight matches, but they have since become a reliable side, climbing to 12th in the league. They have suffered just three defeats in their last 16 matches, amassing 30 points and sitting 13 points clear of the relegation zone, with a goal difference better than all teams in the bottom half aside from Tottenham and Brentford.
Glasner’s tactics include a back three that shifts to a back five against stronger opponents, proving effective compared to Ruben Amorim’s approach at Manchester United, especially evident in Palace’s 2-0 victory at Old Trafford earlier this month. Glasner also tends to field strong lineups in cup competitions, which poses a challenge for Doncaster as they host Palace at Eco-Power Stadium in the FA Cup’s fifth round on Monday night.
Rovers manager Grant McCann has successfully guided the Yorkshire club into third place in League Two, prioritizing automatic promotion, making this cup tie a secondary focus. Expect Palace to progress with relative ease; they have won their previous three away matches at United, West Ham, and Leicester, all by 2-0, following a goalless draw against Bournemouth.
Palace won 2-0 in their last FA Cup visit to Doncaster six years ago, making a repeat scoreline at 11/2 with William Hill a tempting bet. The odds for Palace to win by more than one goal stand at 4/5 with the same bookmaker, Betfair, and Paddy Power.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, reportedly a target for Barcelona in the upcoming transfer window, scored both goals at Old Trafford, and he is priced at 7/2 with Betfair and bet365 to score first, while Unibet and BETMGM offer 6/5 for him to find the net at any time.
In other sports news, major trades in the NBA have reshuffled the league, with players like Luka Doncic moving to the Lakers to team up with LeBron James, and Jimmy Butler joining the Warriors to collaborate with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, intensifying competition in the Western Conference.
Despite a loss in his opening match to former champion Rob Cross, Stephen Bunting is viewed as a promising each-way bet to win the Premier League Darts at 14/1 with various bookmakers, including William Hill and bet365.
Credit: Metro
