Crystal Palace searching for first FA Cup semi-final since 2016 with win against Everton

Crystal Palace will be looking to reach the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2016 as they host struggling Everton.

Patrick Vieira’s side has had a reasonably straightforward run into the last eight on paper, with ties against Championship sides Millwall and Stoke City and League Two Hartlepool United. They will host a Toffees side who are staring at the face of Premier League relegation, with manager Frank Lampard hoping success in the domestic cup can bring some happiness to the Everton faithful in a season deprived of high moments.

Exciting Eagles flying high off results

Monday evening saw Palace hosts reigning Premier League Champions Manchester City at Selhurst Park, with the Cityzens looking to win the title once again. However, the south London outfit were the happier side come full-time as they were able to hold Pep Guardiola’s squad to a 0-0 draw.

They have only lost once in their previous nine games in all competitions. Despite some tipping them for a relegation battle at the beginning of the campaign, Vieira and his players have been able to steer themselves 12 points from the drop with nine matches to play.

Like all Premier League sides, Palace entered the FA Cup at the third-round stage as they travelled to local rivals Millwall. Despite Jack Butland’s calamitous error leading to Benik Afobe’s opener in the first half, the Eagles were 2-1 winners at the Den, with Michael Olise being the show star thanks to his goal assist.

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A home tie versus League Two outfit, Hartlepool saw the 20-year-old shine once again as he scored and assisted against the Pool. In recent weeks, his form for the club was rewarded with his first ever England Under-21 call-up for their upcoming European Under-21 Championship fixtures.

Five changes were made from their draw against Burnley when they faced Stoke, and they left it late to secure their spot in the quarter-finals as Jairo Riedewald scored an 82nd-minute winner, his third for the club.

Victory against the blue half of Merseyside would see them reach an FA Cup semi-final for the first time in six years. Their 2015/16 campaign saw them go all the way to the final at Wembley, only to lose to a Jesse Lingard goal in extra time against Manchester United.

Such an achievement would be another positive to add to the list for Vieira and his exciting side this season, and they will certainly fancy their chances considering the form Everton are in.

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Toffees’ troubling times continue

Despite their encouraging start to the season, in which they won five of their opening eight games in all competition, Everton’s fate has worsened as the season has progressed.

They now sit 17th in the Premier League table, with Alex Iwobi’s 99th-minute winner against Newcastle United on Thursday night, seeing them sit just three points above the drop zone.

Everton required extra time to overcome Championship side Hull City in their third-round FA Cup tie away at the MKM Stadium. The Tigers took the lead after just one minute, and despite the visitors scoring twice to come from behind, Everton required another 30 minutes to settle the tie. Andros Townsend was the hero thanks to his strike from range.

Lampard’s first game in charge of the club after taking over from former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was their home fixture against Brentford. Goals from Yerry Mina, Richarlison, Mason Holgate and Townsend saw them win 4-1 against the Bees, an almost perfect start to life under the Chelsea legend.

The draw for the fifth round was favourable for the Toffees as they hosted National League side Boreham Wood, who had previously knocked out Championship promotion favourites Bournemouth. Everton would prove to be a step too far for the Hertfordshire outfit as a Salomon Rondon brace sent them to the quarter-finals.

Survival in the Premier League is likely to be their primary focus for the rest of the season, with a challenging run-in against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal awaiting them.

However should they progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup courtesy of a victory on their travels to south London, they could gain some much-needed motivation and belief for the final weeks of the campaign.