Crystal Palace vs Hartlepool United. The FA Cup Fourth Round.
Selhurst ParkAttendance22,114.
Match report as Crystal Palace reach the fifth round of the FA Cup after easing past Hartlepool at Selhurst Park; first-half goals by Marc Guehi and Michael Olise enough to see off League Two side; game was stopped in 53rd minute due to a medical emergency in the away end
Saturday 5 February 2022 19:22, UK
Crystal Palace eased into the FA Cup fifth round after first-half goals by Marc Guehi and Michael Olise downed Hartlepool at Selhurst Park.
Patrick Vieira's side were 2-0 up inside 22 minutes but, despite their League Two opponents improving after the break, there were no further goals.
The Eagles could still have triumphed by a greater margin but their manager, a five-time winner of the FA Cup as a player, would not have minded and will be keen for Palace to get a favourable last-16 draw on Sunday morning.
His counterpart, Pools boss Graeme Lee, had been left touched by Palace's donation towards his wife's cancer treatment, with an overall target of £60,000 smashed with help from Eagles fans on Saturday morning.
The club had already helped to subsidise the League Two side's coach travel to bring their fans down to London on the long journey from the north east, leaving the former Sheff Wed player humbled, something you could not say of his side who defied their lowly position and held their own at Selhurst Park.
He said: "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.
"I am forever grateful and not just to the club but for the fans' support. Last time I looked before the game it was over a year's supply of medication for my wife and for us to know that is absolutely unbelievable.
"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."
Vieira put out another strong team with only four changes made from the defeat to Liverpool last month. There was one big surprise, with Martin Kelly given a first start in 17 months.
A large travelling contingent made for an electric atmosphere before kick-off but it did not take long for the Premier League club to flex their muscles.
Only four minutes were on the clock when Guehi tapped home for his third goal since a summer move from Chelsea.
Olise was the creator with a wonderful free-kick from the right and England Under-21 centre-back Guehi timed his run to perfection before producing an equally impressive finish.
The fourth-tier side responded well and tested Jack Butland almost immediately from kick-off but David Ferguson saw his header at the back post scrambled behind for a corner.
More minutes were handed to Ebere Eze, who superbly worked a yard of space before seeing a shot deflect wide off Gary Liddle after 16 minutes.
Eze looked in the mood and dribbled past two opponents shortly afterwards before he was upended but the resulting free-kick was curled over by the playmaker.
Hartlepool had brought 4,700 fans down to the capital and a sustained period of possession saw the visiting support break out into a chorus of Oles.
Palace - and in particular Olise - brought them back down to earth in the 22nd minute, though, when the hosts went 2-0 up.
A short goal-kick was won back by Joel Ward and Conor Gallagher found Olise, who flicked the ball past Croydon-born Timi Odusina before he checked back inside and curled the ball into the bottom corner.
Olise flashed another effort wide while defender Ward was also denied a goal prior to half-time when Ben Killip saved his low shot.
The Hartlepool goalkeeper was busy at the start of the second period, producing a double save to repel the relentless Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta also had a shot saved.
Mateta had earlier hit a post and Tyrick Mitchell put the follow-up over, but the attempts of the hosts to put the game to bed were delayed in the 53rd minute when play was stopped due to a medical emergency in the away end.
Medics from both teams rushed across to assist and were given a standing ovation seven minutes later when they returned to their seats.
When played resumed, it was Hartlepool who threatened with Luke Molyneux denied by Butland after a fine run before Bryn Morris let fly from range and forced the Palace goalkeeper into a sprawling save.
Vieira had made a triple substitution by this point and late on introduced 18-year-old Tayo Adaramola for his debut, but there was no final flourish with Killip able to deny substitutes Will Hughes and Odsonne Edouard to ensure it finished 2-0.
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira: "I was really pleased with the team performance. What we wanted was to start the game well and we did. We managed to score the early goals that allowed us to control the game a little bit more.
"We knew it could be a tricky game but from the first minute we went on the field with a lot of respect for the opposition."
Hartlepool manager Graeme Lee: "The way we started the game didn't help us, we invited them on too much and the goal from a set-play we shouldn't concede.
"The fans were absolutely immense. Once we lifted our intensity, they lifted their noise and they have been immense the whole time.
"After the game the atmosphere, the players and fans needed that moment for the cup run we've had. It was special."
The FA Cup fifth-round draw is on Sunday, February 6.
It will take place before Liverpool's home clash with Cardiff at around 11.30am and you can follow it live on the Sky Sports app and website.
