Santiago Bueno’s second-half winner ensured a safe passage into the FA Cup fifth round for Wolves as the League Two side Grimsby bowed out with pride intact.
The Premier League visitors had not won away in any competition since last April and look certain to be relegated to the Championship this season. But Rob Edwards’ side showed impressive resilience to avoid the kind of ignominy which befell Manchester United when they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup here this season.
After beating Ruben Amorim’s side on penalties, Grimsby went on to win at Sheffield Wednesday before being hammered 5-0 at home by Brentford. They went into this FA Cup fourth‑round tie on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions to encourage hopes of promotion in the coming weeks. But the Uruguayan defender Bueno was on hand to connect with João Gomes’ teasing right-wing cross with a decisive goal on the hour.
On a quagmire of a pitch, Wolves showed guts to eke out the win. Edwards, holding court in the mud on the edge of the pitch afterwards, jokingly called it “quite an aggressive game of headers and volleys”.
The Wolves head coach said: “It was an interesting game in really difficult conditions – for both teams – and a bit of a throwback. We showed really good spirit and fight, did the basics well, and came through it.
“In a way for us, it was great that Grimsby were able to do what they did against Manchester United earlier in the season because we could lean on that and use it. It was about completely respecting the opposition and we had that fight today and showed a good mentality.
“This is a competition that I absolutely love and sitting watching the FA Cup final with my dad when I was young, I loved it. I’ve never been lucky enough to go really far in it, so nothing would please me more than being able to progress further.
“It’s been a really dark season, I suppose, so this is something for the fans to shout about and gives us some momentum going forward.”
In front of a bumper 8,594 crowd, there was no hiding place for Wolves – not that there was any suggestion they were looking to do so. The game began in freezing temperatures and driving rain but the hosts almost led inside the opening 45 seconds when Charles Vernam cut inside from the left flank and fired a low shot just wide.
It was a classic FA Cup tie and had all the makings of an upset, but Wolves showed glimpses of their class. Gomes fired against the crossbar before the break, but Grimsby continued to battle gamely.
Roared on by their vociferous support, David Artell’s men could not make the breakthrough and the crucial opener went to Wolves in the 60th minute. Gomes crossed dangerously from the right following a set piece and Bueno was on hand to divert the ball home.
Half chances came and went for both sides, with Adam Armstrong wasting a good opportunity and Andy Cook, on as a Mariners substitute, heading straight at the Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone late on while Bueno made a vital block to deny Tyrell Sellars-Fleming, another Grimsby substitute.
Artell said:“It was a proper, traditional old school FA Cup tie and the pitch played a huge part in that. I would certainly prefer to play on a much better pitch, as we did against Man United.
Quick GuideFulham advance past Stoke
Show
Harrison Reed’s opportunistic finish carried Fulham into the fifth round of the FA Cup as they came from behind to defeat the Championship strugglers Stoke 2-1 at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke have not won a game since seeing off Coventry in the previous round, but started well against a Fulham side showing 10 changes from their midweek defeat by Manchester City.
The South Korean midfielder Bae Jun-ho capped a fine move by putting Mark Robins’s team ahead after 19 minutes but they were overpowered as their Premier League opponents settled after the interval.
The Brazilian winger Kevin got his reward for a livewire performance in the 55th minute, sending a first-time effort into the bottom corner after cutting in from the left, and a self-inflicted error cost the hosts dear with six minutes remaining.
Under siege for long periods, goalkeeper Tommy Simkin attempted a short pass to Tatsuki Seko, who was caught daydreaming by Reed, Fulham’s captain for the day. He collected the ball as Seko tumbled to the turf, finished calmly and sealed the London club’s place in the next stage.
PA Media
“I don’t want people to think I’m making excuses but it doesn’t allow us to play the game we want to play. We have limited a Premier League side to one shot on target and we didn’t do enough on the other side of the coin. Cooky had a header and Bueno made an unbelievable block at the end.
“We’re a fourth‑tier side playing Premier League opposition again and we’ve reached the fourth round of both domestic cup competitions.
“It still stings to lose, it’s horrible, but we’ve run another Premier League team very close. We’re extremely proud of what we’re doing here and we’ve got to make sure that from our remaining 16 games we have something to celebrate in May.”
