santiago bueno seals Wolves' muddy FA Cup win at Grimsby
Wolverhampton Wanderers scraped past League Two side Grimsby Town 1-0 in a rain-soaked FA Cup fourth-round tie at Blundell Park on February 15, 2026 ET, with Santiago Bueno's second-half intervention the only shot on target of the match. The victory sends the Premier League visitors into the fifth round for the third straight season — a feat not achieved by the club since 1981 — even as league form continues to deteriorate.
Muddy conditions set the tone as chances remained scarce
Persistent rainfall left large swathes of Blundell Park sodden and one penalty area particularly quagmired, turning routine passing into a gamble and limiting fluid attacking play from both sides. Charles Vernam tested the visitors with a near-miss inside the opening minute, while Wolves' first sizeable opening did not arrive until the 17th minute when Tolu Arokodare fired over.
As the surface broke up, white pitch markings blurred into the mud and long-range attempts and set pieces became the primary avenues to goal. Joao Gomes rattled the crossbar from a free kick after a contentious foul on Adam Armstrong, and Grimsby substitute and starters both threatened from corners and set plays but could not find a clean connection on the slick surface.
Wolves' attacking rhythm was stifled by the conditions and by a resolute home defence, while Grimsby’s counter-attacking intent was repeatedly thwarted by wayward passes or the pitch swallowing up momentum. The lack of clear-cut opportunities underlined the difficulty both teams faced in constructing anything resembling sustained pressure.
Bueno’s finish — and its wider significance for Wolves
With roughly an hour on the clock, Joao Gomes delivered a cross that Santiago Bueno met, diverting the ball past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh to register the match's only on-target effort. The strike ultimately proved decisive, and Wolves managed to cling to that slender lead despite few further attacking threats.
The win offers a rare bright spot for the visitors amid a bleak Premier League campaign. Wolves sit near the foot of the top flight, trailing safety by a large margin with 12 games remaining, and their league status appears precarious. Still, the FA Cup run provides Rob Edwards' side a chance to salvage pride and tangible progress in a season otherwise defined by inconsistency and defensive fragility.
Progressing to the fifth round for a third straight year is notable in its own right and will give the squad a brief morale boost before attention returns fully to the league. That small silver lining may be valuable in the months ahead as Wolves attempt to arrest their slide.
Grimsby pressed late but could not force extra time
The hosts rose in urgency after falling behind, probing for an equaliser across the final half-hour. Tyrell Warren threatened with a header before the break, and Adam Armstrong squandered a rebound early in the second half when goalkeeper Smith mis-hit a clearance. Grimsby’s most notable chance came in the 90th minute when Andy Cook nodded toward goal, only to be denied by Sam Johnstone — the visitors’ first shot on target arriving only with that save.
Grimsby’s performance underlined their disruptive potential on this surface and their habit of punching above their weight in cup competitions this season. Even in defeat, the home side left a mark on the tie with spirited defending and late pressure that forced Wolves to defend deep. A last-ditch block from Bueno prevented extra time and ensured Wolves’ passage, but the narrow margin also emphasised how Cup nights can hinge on a single moment in adverse conditions.
Wolves now await Monday’s fifth-round draw, while Grimsby will turn back to league matters and the momentum from a competitive showing against top-flight opposition.
