Grimsby Town 0-1 Wolves: Bueno strike sees visitors advance from mud-logged Blundell Park
Wolves scraped past League Two outfit Grimsby Town in a rain-soaked fourth-round FA Cup tie at Blundell Park, Santiago Bueno's late first-half intervention separating the sides as both teams battled the elements and a treacherous surface.
Muddy pitch and miserable conditions dictate a cautious contest
Persistent rainfall turned the Blundell Park playing surface into an uneven, sodden arena that made passing and movement unpredictable. One penalty area was already a quagmire before kick-off, and the white lines on the pitch soon blurred into the mud as the afternoon wore on. That played into a low-quality match in which clear-cut chances were scarce.
Grimsby threatened inside the opening minute when Charles Vernam forced an early opening, skimming a shot narrowly wide after just 43 seconds. Wolves’ first notable effort arrived around the 17th minute when Tolu Arokodare fired over from distance, but that was one of few genuine attempts as the heavy underfoot conditions repeatedly disrupted rhythm and tempo for both sides.
Physicality rose as the game progressed. Wolves were frustrated when Cameron McJannet received only a yellow after halting Adam Armstrong on a promising run into the box. Joao Gomes swung the free-kick against the crossbar moments later, the rebound underscoring how set-pieces and individual moments were more likely to decide the game than fluent, territory-dominant play.
Bueno's decisive moment and late Grimsby rallies
The match’s only goal came just after the hour mark when Joao Gomes delivered a second-half cross that Santiago Bueno diverted past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh, a clinical touch from Wolves' defender that counted as the visitors’ only shot on target. The strike was simple in conception but decisive in a game where chances were at a premium.
Grimsby responded with urgency after going behind. They probed for openings and pushed more players forward, testing Wolves’ concentration. Andy Cook rose to meet a late delivery and headed toward goal in the 90th minute, but Sam Johnstone was equal to the effort, ensuring the hosts’ first shot on target would not result in extra time. In stoppage time Bueno produced a last-ditch block to deny a late scramble and preserve the 1-0 result.
Cup consolation for beleaguered visitors and boosted morale for the Mariners
Wolves, who have endured a torrid league campaign and sit perilously close to relegation positions, will take modest solace from progressing to the fifth round for the third consecutive season — their best cup run in decades. With their Premier League survival hopes fading, the FA Cup offers this squad one of its few remaining chances of tangible success this season.
For Grimsby, the defeat will sting but there were encouraging signs. The League Two side arrived on the back of an extended unbeaten run and produced moments of quality, especially early on. A sold-out crowd at Blundell Park and a vocal home atmosphere underlined the scale of the occasion, and the narrow margin will give the Mariners belief that they can compete with higher-ranked opponents when conditions allow.
Wolves will be included in Monday's draw for the fifth round, while Grimsby can take heart from their resilience and the performance in front of their supporters as they refocus on League Two action.
