Six things we loved from the win over Millwall

First-team

6 hours ago

Crystal Palace made it through to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the third time in seven seasons with a 3-1 win over Millwall on Saturday. Here are five things we loved from the day…

One win from Wembley

It wasn’t always pretty viewing on Saturday – but in the FA Cup, it’s the result that counts for everything.

In the end, Palace were full value for their 3-1 win – sealed by an own-goal and efforts from Daniel Muñoz and Eddie Nketiah – against Millwall, putting aside their numerical advantage.

Any Cup tie, regardless of on-the-pitch events, can always carry with it added emotion, but Palace showed their greater quality to manage the occasion and get the job done. Indeed, it was Palace’s 10th win in their last 11 ties against lower-league opposition.

Match Action: Crystal Palace 3-1 Millwall

A third appearance in the FA Cup quarter-finals in the last seven seasons awaits – as many as in the preceding 36 years combined – and Palace, drawn against Fulham away, are now just theoretically one win from Wembley.

Add it to a club-record Premier League points tally after 27 games (with 36 at this stage of the season, bettering 2020/21’s 34) – and this has the makings of quite the season.

Rallying around JP

Setting aside the incident which led to the injury, there was no relief greater than when Jean-Philippe Mateta took to social media to release this update later on Saturday:

Later, a club-issued update confirmed he had been discharged from hospital after receiving specialist treatment, and that all scans were clear and Mateta was feeling well.

After the initial shock of the incident and a lengthy, lengthy stoppage, Palace rallied to show their support for their top scorer, with Ebere Eze tucking in his shirt in the second-half to pay homage to his fellow forward.

Captain Marc Guéhi himself said it best after the game: ‘Fantastique.’

Air-die Nketiah

The scenes which followed Eddie Nketiah’s first Premier League goal for Palace earlier in the week were special, with all of his teammates celebrating with him to show their appreciation of his hard work in training, day-in, day-out.

But this goal to seal the tie was special. As manager Oliver Glasner himself said after the game: “He had to run backwards and then heading into the opposite direction is one of the most difficult headers you can have, technically, and getting all the power.

“It was amazing.”

França’s Selhurst return

Matheus França’s appearance off the bench in the 85th minute of the win marked his first match at Selhurst Park since 24th February 2024 against Burnley – Glasner’s first game in charge, when the talented young Brazilian provided a brace of assists.

The 20-year-old might even have marked his return to SE25 with a goal in the closing seconds – but he slipped at the crucial moment and his effort went wide.

Regardless, it was a landmark moment for França – with hopefully many more to come.

Selhurst scenes

Atmospheres have rarely been more red-hot at Selhurst Park this season than that which accompanied Saturday’s tie with our South London rivals.

The noise, the displays, the passion – it was impossible not to love.

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It was a win over Millwall

‘Nuff said, right?

On the occasion of the 100th competitive meeting between the two teams, Palace emerged triumphant; we are now unbeaten in our last six meetings with the Lions, having won three of those encounters.

As Romain Esse himself said: “South London is ours.”

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