Wolverhampton Wanderers booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a hard-fought win over Grimsby Town in treacherous conditions at Blundell Park.
In relentless rain that quickly turned the surface into a mudbath, chances were scarce and the pitch proved a great leveller between the Premier League’s bottom side and their League Two hosts.
The decisive moment arrived just after the hour mark when defender Santiago Bueno diverted Joao Gomes’ cross past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh - Wolves’ only shot on target of the afternoon.
Grimsby had started brightly, with Charles Vernam firing narrowly wide inside the opening minute.
Wolves responded through Tolu Arokodare, who shot over, while Gomes later rattled the crossbar from a free-kick after Adam Armstrongwas brought down on the edge of the area.
The deteriorating pitch made flowing football almost impossible, with standing water and heavy mud disrupting both sides’ rhythm.
Grimsby threatened sporadically - Tyrell Warren headed wide before the break - but struggled to test Sam Johnstone until the 90th minute, when Andy Cook forced him into action with a late header.
Bueno then produced a crucial block in stoppage time to deny an equaliser and preserve Wolves’ lead.
For Wolves, mired in relegation trouble under manager Rob Edwards, the FA Cup represents a rare source of optimism in a bleak league campaign.
Despite their domestic struggles, back-to-back cup victories have carried them into the last 16, keeping hopes alive of salvaging something from a difficult season.
