Rob Edwards Relieved as Wolverhampton Wanderers Survive Mud Bath to Beat Grimsby Town in FA Cup

Wolves manager Rob Edwards described his side’s 1–0 FA Cup victory away to Grimsby Town as an “aggressive game of headers and volleys” after the Premier League outfit negotiated treacherous conditions at Blundell Park.

The contest was far from a spectacle, but Santiago Bueno’s second-half strike proved decisive as Wolves edged past their League Two opponents in what Edwards characterised as a throwback encounter dominated by the elements.

Grimsby — nicknamed the Mariners — had already claimed a notable scalp earlier in the season by defeating Manchester United in the League Cup, and approached the fourth-round tie sensing another opportunity against top-flight opposition.

However, while Wolves have endured difficulties in the Premier League this term, the waterlogged and uneven surface at Blundell Park significantly influenced proceedings, rendering fluent football virtually impossible.

‘Tactics Were Out of the Window’

Edwards acknowledged the challenge posed by both the opposition and the conditions.

“It was all set up for a cup upset. Tactics were out of the window, it was a throwback,” he said.

“It was an eye-opener for a lot of them when we arrived — the wind was sideways and there were puddles on the pitch.

“It was an aggressive game of headers and volleys. It was an interesting game, really difficult conditions, really challenging conditions, obviously for both teams.

“It was a different type of game, a bit of a throwback and one that really we could only win by being professional today and doing it right.

“It was an interesting day for some of our Brazilians that they won’t forget.

“We talked a lot in the last few days about mentality.

“It’s great that they were able to do what they did against Manchester United earlier in the season because we used that to respect the opposition, the conditions, the game, the competition. To do things that were in our control, and do them well. That’s what we did.”

The pitch passed two pre-match inspections, though Wolves initially struggled to adapt, with Grimsby producing the stronger first-half display. Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren both had opportunities to open the scoring before the interval.

Wolves improved after the restart, and Bueno’s composed finish shortly after the hour mark ultimately proved enough to secure progression.

Artell: Conditions Hindered Game

Grimsby manager David Artell also pointed to the playing surface as a significant factor.

“A traditional old-school FA Cup tie, wasn’t it?” he said.

“The pitch played a huge part in that, but certainly from my side, we prefer to play on a better pitch as we did against Man United.

“I don’t want people to think I’m making excuses, but it doesn’t allow for the game that we want to play.

“But that’s the hand we are dealt, and I thought both teams coped with it fairly well.

“It’s never nice to lose. It’s horrible. But at the same time, you put it into a bit of perspective that you are extremely close, and with fine margins on your side, on another day you might have had a different outcome.”

While the spectacle may have lacked finesse, Wolves’ professionalism in adverse conditions ensured their place in the next round of the competition.