Cheltenham were brought back to earth with a bump with a seven-goal thrashing at Selhurst Park.

The Robins stunned First Division high-flyers Norwich 3-0 at Carrow Road in the last round.

But goals from Dele Adebola (2), Hayden Mullins, Tony Popovic, Dougie Freedman (2) and an own goal from Richard Walker meant there was no repeat against Palace.

Adebola had the first noteworthy opportunity of the night in the 10th minute but he failed to make strong contact with Danny Granville's cross and his header drifted wide.

The Robins were dealt an early blow when midfielder Hugh McAuley limped off to be replaced by Lee Williams, and their evening took another turn for the worse shortly after.

Freedman's long-range strike beat goalkeeper Steve Book but came back off a post, and Adebola was alert to prod home the loose ball for his first Palace goal.

The Eagles lost Darren Powell to injury after 23 minutes, with Dean Austin coming on, but they were dominating the game as Derry came close with a fierce drive from the edge of the box.

Struggling Cheltenham, currently lying third from bottom in the Second Division, were restricted to shots from distance, with Russell Milton finally testing Nik Michopoulos from 25 yards.

And Mark Yates had the Greek stopper scrambling to gather a low drive minutes before half-time as the visitors tried to get back into the game.

Trevor Francis introduced Gray at the break, and no sooner had the youngster entered the fray than the home side extended their lead.

Mullins, who put through his own net against Gillingham at the weekend, powered a near-post header past Book for his third of the season.

Cheltenham heads dropped as rampant Palace netted two goals in two minutes to end the tie as a contest.

Australian defender Popovic gave Book little chance as he nodded home from Danny Butterfield's corner after 53 minutes, and two minutes later Freedman got in on the act, coolly slotting the ball past the keeper.

Freedman and Gray came close to adding to the lead before Adebola grabbed his second of the night with a close-range header from a Wayne Routledge cross.

Cheltenham's misery was compounded 60 seconds later as Walker diverted a low cross past the stranded Book, and Freedman completed the rout at the death as he swept home from Gray's near-post corner.

Crystal Palace: Michopoulos, Granville, Butterfield, Popovic, Powell, Mullins, Derry, Black, Routledge, Freedman, Adebola.

Subs: Scheuer, Gray, Austin, Williams, Antwi.

Cheltenham: Book, Griffin, Victory, Mike Duff, Walker, Yates, Milton, McAuley, Finnigan, Naylor, Alsop.

Subs: Higgs, Brayson, Spencer, Jones, Williams.

Referee: R Beeby (Northamptonshire)