These sides may be separated by a considerable gulf in the Football League pyramid but this was an occasion when the scoreline, rather than the league tables, was more far reflective of the gap between the teams.
The only metric in which this game was truly one-sided in favour of the Premier League side was possession. Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner will of course point to the cold, hard facts of the afternoon. Victory put his side through to the fourth round. Job done.
But his opposite number Dave Challinor, who has worked wonders in guiding County up the divisions, will be thinking of what could have been as they make the long journey back to the north west tonight.