FA Cup Romance Alive at Moss Rose
The magic of the FA Cup was in full effect on a crisp Cheshire afternoon as National League North side Macclesfield welcomed Premier League giants and reigning cup holders Crystal Palace to Moss Rose for a third-round clash. The match kicked off at 12:15 PM GMT on Saturday, 10th January 2026, with the home side, sitting 14th in the sixth tier, dreaming of a historic upset against Oliver Glasner's top-flight outfit.
Pre-Match Atmosphere and Team News
Walking from the railway station to the modest Leasing.com Stadium, a palpable buzz filled the air. Fans snapped up commemorative scarves, bars were packed, and TV trucks dominated the car park. For the reborn Silkmen, reformed in 2020, this marked their first encounter with Premier League opposition and a treasured occasion for the community.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner was clear in his pre-match interview with the BBC: "It's clear that we're here to win the game." His lineup included three members of last season's triumphant FA Cup final side: Adam Wharton, Marc Guéhi, and Chris Richards, signalling respect for the challenge.
Macclesfield boss John Rooney, sharing a pitchside moment with his brother Wayne, highlighted the occasion's significance: "Since the club reformed we've done well... but we've never really had that FA Cup run... to get drawn against the holders, you can see what it means to them today."
Early Exchanges on the 4G Surface
The game began after a brief delay to remove a stray warm-up cone. An immediate clash of heads between Macclesfield's Paul Dawson and Palace's Jaydee Canvot required treatment for both players, setting a stop-start tone for the opening minutes.
Palace, adjusting to the artificial surface, saw an early chance fall to Yeremy Pino in the 13th minute. A neat combination between Jaden Sosa and Chrisantus Uche put the forward through, but he scuffed his close-range effort wide of the near post.
Macclesfield, admirably trying to play football, registered their first shot on target shortly after through Lewis Lacey, whose long-range effort was comfortably gathered by Palace goalkeeper Adrián Benítez. At the other end, Kaden Rodney's dangerous cross from the left just evaded the glancing head of Joél Drakes-Thomas.
As the first half progressed, Palace controlled possession but struggled to break down a resolute Macclesfield defence, who were largely keeping their illustrious opponents at arm's length. The low winter sun proved a factor, with Macclesfield goalkeeper Max Dearnley sporting a cap against the glare.
The Context of a Giant-Killing Bid
This fixture represented the ultimate FA Cup contrast. Macclesfield, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, were facing the trophy holders. The Silkmen's last third-round appearance in the 2013-14 season saw them take Sheffield Wednesday to a replay. Today, against a Palace side featuring international stars, the task was even greater.
Elsewhere in the early kick-offs, the shock Macclesfield hoped for was not materialising at Molineux, where Wolves led Shrewsbury 2-0. Meanwhile, another League Two side, Cheltenham Town, were holding Leicester City to a 0-0 stalemate.
With the scoreline remaining goalless past the 20-minute mark, belief continued to spread among the vocal home support at Moss Rose. The stage was set for a potential cup fairy tale, as Macclesfield aimed to write a new chapter in their phoenix club's history.
