Wolverhampton Wanderers booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round after a swift attacking display saw them overcome Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Despite a sluggish opening spell, Wolves netted twice in quick succession to take control of the match before halftime.
Blackburn appeared to have taken the lead when Dominic Hyam headed in from John Buckley’s free-kick, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. Without VAR in operation until the next round, the decision remained, though replays suggested it was a close call. Shortly after, Augustus Kargbo went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Emmanuel Agbadou, but the referee deemed it simulation and awarded Wolves a free-kick.
Wolves Capitalize on Defensive Errors
Wolves took full advantage of their opponents’ attempt to play out from the back in the 33rd minute. Joao Gomes pounced on a defensive lapse and slotted a low shot beneath Blackburn goalkeeper Balazs Toth to break the deadlock.
Moments later, the visitors struck again. Matheus Cunha latched onto Nelson Semedo’s pass and produced a composed finish into the bottom corner, doubling Wolves’ advantage within the space of 100 seconds. The quick-fire goals left Blackburn with an uphill task going into the second half.
Rovers Push but Wolves Hold Firm
As the match progressed, both teams created opportunities, though clear-cut chances remained limited. Blackburn, eager to stage a comeback, pressed forward in the latter stages, forcing Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone into action. He produced a crucial save to deny Makhtar Gueye, preventing a late twist in the contest.
With the victory secured, Wolves advanced to the FA Cup fifth round for the second consecutive season—something they had not achieved since 1995. The draw for the next round is set to take place on Monday at 19:10 GMT on BBC One.
