santiago bueno seals muddy win as Wolves scrape past Grimsby to reach FA Cup fifth round
On Sunday, February 15, 2026 (ET), Santiago Bueno struck the decisive blow as Wolves edged League Two side Grimsby Town 1-0 at a waterlogged Blundell Park to reach the FA Cup fifth round. The only shot on target for the visitors found the net amid relentless rain and a pitch more suited to a cross-country slog than a technical contest.
Match report: a single moment decides a slog at Blundell Park
Persistent rainfall left the surface quagmire-like, with one penalty area already saturated before kick-off. The conditions shaped a game in which clear-cut chances were scarce and both teams struggled to string passes together as the ball skidded and stuck on the sodden turf.
Grimsby began brightly and might have caught their top-flight visitors cold; Charles Vernam tested the nerves with a near miss inside the opening minute. Wolves’ own first meaningful attempt came in the 17th minute when Tolu Arokodare fired over, but for long stretches the match was a contest of contested second balls and set-piece scraps rather than flowing play.
The decisive moment arrived after the break. Joao Gomes delivered a second-half cross that Santiago Bueno diverted past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh on the hour mark. It was the visitors’ only shot on target, but it was enough. Grimsby pushed late, mustering their first shot on target in the 90th minute when Andy Cook’s header was denied by Sam Johnstone, and Bueno produced a vital block to prevent extra time minutes later.
Wolves held out, securing progression to Monday’s draw for the fifth round. The scoreline flattered Wolves only slightly—this was a narrow escape rather than a statement victory—but it was a tangible result in a season that has otherwise offered little to their supporters.
Wider implications: cup solace for a Premier League struggler, pride for the Mariners
For Wolves, the FA Cup remains one of the few consolations in an otherwise bleak campaign. The club has endured a torrid run in the top flight, sitting rock-bottom and 18 points from safety with 12 league fixtures remaining. Relegation appears likely, but progression in the cup gives manager and players a short-lived reprieve and a chance to salvage something from the season.
Grimsby can take pride from the performance. The League Two side have already demonstrated their capacity to trouble higher-tier opponents this season, and their manager emphasised the spine-tingling pleasure these cup nights bring to players and supporters alike. The pitch may have levelled the technical gulf, but the hosts still pushed Wolves to the limit and only a combination of last-ditch defending and a fine save denied them a dramatic equaliser.
Key moments, context and what’s next
Key moments included Vernam’s early chance that almost set the tone, Gomes’ free-kick that struck the crossbar, and Bueno’s match-winning touch. Statistically, the match illustrated Wolves’ attacking woes: few genuine openings and a reluctance to create from open play have become recurring themes. Under their manager, league form has been patchy and goals have been hard to come by.
Looking ahead, Wolves will now prepare for the fifth-round draw on Monday, February 16, 2026 (ET), while Grimsby return to league duties with encouragement from their cup run and the knowledge that they can compete with top-tier opponents on their day. For a club that has revelled in memorable upsets this season, the narrow defeat at Blundell Park will sting, but it will also be viewed as evidence of progress and resolve.
In a game defined more by weather and will than technique, Santiago Bueno’s intervention provided the solitary, decisive flash of quality that separated the two sides.
