Wolves Survive the Mud Bath at Grimsby to Reach the FA Cup Fifth Round

Team news for Wolves raised a few eyebrows among the faithful.

Johnstone
Mosquera, S. Bueno, Krejci
Tchatchoua, J. Gomes, Andre, Mane, Moller-Wolfe
Arokodare, Armstrong

Constant rain and freezing temperatures had put several games at risk. The FA were apparently insistent this one went ahead, and the pitch was covered with an inflated curtain to help make sure it did. However, when the players came out to warm up, it was clear that some areas were like a bog, and pools of water had not drained away elsewhere.

This was going to be a throwback to the cup ties of the seventies. Passes would fall short as the mud sucked the momentum out of the ball. The game would take strength, stamina, attrition, and an element of luck. After the season Wolves have had so far, was this going to be our day?

First half:

Grimsby had already beaten Manchester United in the League Cup, so another scalp against a struggling Premier League side felt possible.

Any thoughts of playing short-passing football went out of the window within the first few minutes, when the ball started sticking in the mud. Wolves quickly had to put extra power into their passes or risk losing it cheaply.

Wolves had a chance after 16 minutes when Arokodare chased down a pass that would normally have rolled straight into goalkeeper Smith’s hands. Tolu got there first, but got too much on it and lifted the ball over the bar.

The referee was very lenient with challenges, given the conditions. One such incident left Moller-Wolfe in a heap. The ball was sent into the crowd, but the follow-through scissor tackle left him clutching his shins on the floor. No card from referee Samuel Barrot.

Wolves were determined to use Mosquera’s long throws towards the six-yard box at every opportunity, no matter which side they came from. Grimsby dealt with them comfortably. Mosquera was the first player booked, judged to have shoved Rodgers.

On 34 minutes, Armstrong was chopped down on the edge of the box after a quick Wolves counter. McJannet was booked, but only shown a yellow. Wolves players were asking why it was not red, as he was the last man and Armstrong was clean through.

Wolves had a free-kick choice of Joao Gomes or Moller-Wolfe, left foot or right. Joao stepped up, cleared the wall, and struck the corner where the bar meets the post. The ball bounced back into play and was cleared.

Just before half-time, Mosquera was shoved to the ground by Kabia, a case of double standards, and again no yellow card.

Half-time, and still goalless.

Second half:

The second half was only two minutes old when Kabia sent Mosquera crashing to the ground and finally received a yellow card. Had he been booked for the earlier challenge, he would have been off.

Armstrong missed the chance of the game when Smith miskicked the ball straight to him on the edge of the area. He could have hit it first time, but took too long and was closed down.

The referee returned to letting the game flow, regardless of the number of fouls. Mosquera was on the receiving end of several challenges, but he got his own back on Rodgers by shoulder-charging him into the goal-line hoardings, which Barrot surprisingly waved away.

On 60 minutes, Wolves fans leapt into the air as Joao Gomes sent the ball back into the box and Santi Bueno volleyed it into the top-left corner. Smith had no chance.

Wolves began to control the game more, and Arokodare brought down a cross on the edge of the box before swivelling and firing just over.

As the half went on, it became harder and harder to play football. The key was to put the ball into touch or send it long to eat up the clock.

Wolves fought for every ball, refusing to give Grimsby one clear-cut chance. Bellegarde came on for an exhausted Andre on 89 minutes.

I expected a long amount of added time, but only four minutes went up. Surely Wolves could manage another four minutes after such a stoic performance. But on 93 minutes, Grimsby came again. The ball dropped on the penalty spot and Sellars-Fleming was about to pull the trigger, but Santi Bueno slid in with a match-winning block.

Wolves defended the resulting corner, even with Smith coming up to crowd Johnstone, then sent the ball down the pitch. Samuel Barrot blew for full time, and Wolves had put in a gutsy performance to progress into the fifth round.

My Man of the Match: Santi Bueno. A complete performance. He scored the winner and prevented the equaliser. Rob Edwards would solve a big problem by making him captain next season.

A scrappy game with few chances, but a match full of big performances.

One satisfied Wolves fan