Crystal Palace made a mockery of the suggestion that Premier League clubs have been hampered by a week off as they breezed through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Hartlepool United.
The fourth-round had started with Championship side Middlesborough knocking out Manchester United on penalties before Chelsea and West Ham both had to come from behind, and play extra-time, against Plymouth and Kidderminster.
Even Manchester City went behind against Fulham before coming back to win. No such troubles for Patrick Vieira’s men, however, who were quick out of the blocks against their League Two opponents.
Crystal Palace secured a 2-0 win over League Two side Hartlepool in the FA Cup fourth round
Defender Marc Guehi opened the scoring for the Eagles just four minutes into the FA Cup tie
Michael Olise (right) then doubled the lead for Patrick Vieira’s side after 22 minutes
‘We just had three days off, I think it was important for us to keep training,’ Vieira said.
‘This kind of break can sometimes kill this kind of momentum, it was important for us to prepare for the next two games.
‘What we wanted is to start the game well and we did it, we managed to score early, the goal allowed us to control the game a little bit more.
‘I’m really pleased with the concentration and professionalism from the players.’
There were just four minutes on the clock when Marc Guehi opened the scoring before Michael Olise doubled their lead mid-way through the first half. They could have won this by four or five had it not been for Pools’ goalkeeper Ben Kilip, who made a number of excellent saves in the second half.
The Eagles’ fourth-round tie with Hartlepool has been paused due to a medical emergency
Seventy-one league places separated the clubs before kick-off but Hartlepool had won the only previous two FA Cup meetings between the teams, in 1978 and 1993. The 6,000 travelling fans more than made their voices heard throughout the 90 minutes but their most important contribution was alerting stewards to a medical emergency in the 53rd minute.
Play was stopped for around seven minutes while medics worked on the Pools supporter, who was said to be in a stable condition when they were taken to hospital.
Never giving up is part of the DNA of this football club, epitomised by their manager Graeme Lee, whose wife Gemma has defied the doctors who gave her just 12 months to live nearly two years ago after she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Palace donated £1,000 to the family’s fundraiser before the match.
‘What Crystal Palace have done, not only for putting the buses on for the fans to come down but for what they have done for me and my wife is absolutely immense,’ said Lee. ‘I am forever grateful and not just to the club but for the fans support.
Both club’s doctors reportedly rushed over to the Hartlepool end to attend the incident
The players were brought to the side of the pitch while play was paused
‘Last time I looked [at the Just Giving page] before the game it was over a year’s supply of medication for my wife and for us to know that is absolutely unbelievable, to know we have that for over a year.
‘The support and messages from the fans means as much, especially for my wife because the well wishes and positive energy coming for her can only help. A massive thanks from me especially to all of Crystal Palace. I will follow Crystal Palace and hope they have success going forward now for what they have done.’
Next week will mark four years since Hartlepool avoided liquidation after a supporter started a Just Giving page to pay off a £48,000 tax bill.
Things look brighter now, but an unlikely upset was not to be. The club returned to the football league after a four-year absence last season and maintaining their third-tier status, the club are four points above the relegation zone, is the overwhelming priority.
Palace were on the front foot from the first whistle and took the lead when an un-marked Guehi met Olise’s free-kick to side-foot the ball past Kilip.
David Ferguson, who had conceded the set piece for a trip on Olise, had the chance to equalise almost instantly when he met Jamie Sterry’s cross at the back-post but his header was straight at Jack Butland, who was able to make a routine save.
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That miss proved costly as Palace doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. Joel Ward met Kilip’s goal-kick on the right wing and his header was flicked on by Conor Gallgagher to Olise, who turned past Timi Odusina before firing in at the near post.
Jean-Philipe Mateta (centre in action) hit the woodwork from two-yards out
The striker had another attempt on goal saved by Hartlepool goalkeeper Ben Killip (centre)
Olise has had to be patient for his chance since his £8million summer switch from Reading while injuries have also limited his game time. But the 20-year-old now has three goals and three assists in his last five games.
The forward was back causing havoc as the game restarted and he should have had a second assist but Jean-Philipe somehow hit the post from two-yards when it looked easier to score before Tyrick Mitchell blazed over the re-bound.
Olise should then have had another goal but a fine double save from Kilip kept the score at 2-0. The Pools ‘keeper was a busy man and he made another excellent save to prevent Mateta from scoring.
Palace had another chance to make it 3-0 shortly after but it was not Mateta’s day, as yet again Kilip denied him with an excellent save.