Bueno header sends Wolves past Grimsby at Blundell Park in FA Cup
Wolves scraped through to the FA Cup fifth round after Santiago Bueno diverted João Gomes' cross into the net on the hour, securing victory at a waterlogged Blundell Park. The League Two hosts matched their higher‑ranked visitors for spirit but ultimately bowed out to a single decisive moment in a classic old‑school cup tie.
Mud, momentum and a tight contest
The match began under freezing rain and a pitch that quickly turned into a quagmire, forcing both sides into a physical, aerial encounter rather than the polished passing game either would have preferred. Grimsby started brightly and came close inside the opening minute when Charles Vernam cut in from the left and curled a low effort narrowly wide, setting the tone for a nervy afternoon.
Wolves showed flashes of class despite their struggles in the league. João Gomes rattled the crossbar before the interval, and it was his persistence down the right that ultimately produced the decisive moment. In the 60th minute Gomes delivered a teasing cross following a set piece and Bueno rose to divert the ball home, handing the Premier League visitors the advantage.
Chances continued to ebb and flow. Adam Armstrong squandered a chance for Wolves, while Grimsby substitutes, including Andy Cook, threatened late on with a header that was comfortably saved. Bueno later produced a crucial block to deny Tyrell Sellars‑Fleming and preserve the lead. In front of a sold‑out 8, 594 crowd, neither side gave an inch on a day when the conditions dictated a dogged approach.
Reactions and repercussions
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards praised his players’ spirit after the game, calling it a throwback contest and saying the team showed “really good spirit and fight” in testing conditions. He admitted the season has been difficult for the club but welcomed the morale boost the cup run can provide, noting his affection for the competition and his desire to progress further.
Grimsby boss David Artell reflected on a performance the home supporters could be proud of, labelling it “a proper, traditional old school FA Cup tie” and lamenting the role the pitch played in limiting the spectacle. The Mariners arrived at the tie on the back of a ten‑match unbeaten run and a memorable cup campaign that included a victory over much bigger opposition earlier in the season; while their FA Cup journey ends here, confidence in their league ambitions remains intact.
For Wolves, the win offers a rare piece of good news in an otherwise dark domestic campaign. The club had been starved of away victories since the previous April and face an uphill battle in the Premier League, but cup progress hands the squad a welcome lift and a chance to build momentum.
Looking ahead
Wolves now head into the fifth round with a narrow margin but renewed belief in knockout football; the competition presents a reprieve from league pressures and an opportunity to galvanise supporters. Grimsby, meanwhile, can take encouragement from a performance that underlined their resilience and growing momentum in the league, even if cup history ends at Blundell Park this season.
The fixture will be remembered for its grit and a single piece of decisive finishing on a treacherous surface, a reminder that FA Cup drama often arrives in the simplest of moments.
