Rob Edwards was pleased with how his players coped with the difficult conditions they faced at Blundell Park to secure their place in the Emirates FA Cup fifth round at the expense of Grimsby Town.
Wolves were made to work hard to overcome the challenge of the League Two side, with the weather providing many of the Old Gold players with a type of surface which they had never come up against before in their careers.
But Edwards was delighted with how his players dug deep to come away from a banana skin contest with the victory, thanks to Santi Bueno’s second half strike, and continue their run in the competition.
On progressing into the FA Cup fifth round
“It was quite an aggressive game of headers and volleys in the end! It was an interesting game. Really difficult conditions, really challenging conditions, obviously for both teams, and it’s the same for both of us.
“It was a different type of game, a bit of a throwback, and one that we could only win by winning and being professional today and doing it right. It was never going to be a day for beautiful football, it was never going to be a day for trying to build and play from the back, although I think they hoped we would, but we played with some realism.
“We showed really good spirit and fight, did the basics well, and came through.”
On overcoming challenging conditions
“It was an interesting day for some of our Brazilians, but they won’t forget today.
“We talked a lot over the last few days about mentality, because, for us, it was great that they were able to do what they did against Manchester United earlier in the season, because we could use that and lean on that, to ensure we showed complete respect to the opposition, the conditions, the game, the competition and make sure that we tried to do things that were in our control right and do them well.
“The running, the fight, the basics, we showed a good mentality today.”
On Santi Bueno’s heroics at both ends
“It was a brilliant finish. He made a great run, a little darting run across the six yard box and he got on there and I was really pleased to see it fly in the top corner.
“He’s been playing really well. Santi is someone who is really growing on me. He goes about his business, he’s unassuming, very quiet, but a quiet leader. He’s been playing very well for us, and he’s helped us to two clean sheets in a row.
“He’s been good and he’s got the all-important goal today, and an amazing tackle right at the end as well. He’s just a good footballer and he showed up today. I really like him and it’s too early to speak about things like that [Bueno being with the squad next season] now, but I do really like Santi Bueno.”
A POTM display from @SantiBueno98 👏 pic.twitter.com/p99AB5eBNC
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 15, 2026
On a better second half display
“There was a little bit of being used to the conditions, and I think you’ve got to earn the right in these games. We talked about earning the right, and they’re going to come right at us with loads of energy and intensity, so we expected that.
“The game was quite 50/50 and in the balance in the first half, and we talked about how we could make another pass or two in the final third, so once we got it there, we felt we could work our way in and cross the ball more.
“That’s exactly how the goal scored. We got it in there, tried to keep it there, and when it came back out, we had one or two passes. It’s obviously not conducive today to playing ‘total football’, but that was one of the things we talked about, amongst others, such as doing the basics well, stopping the crosses, not giving too many silly fouls away in the final third, which we did better. There was a number of things we spoke about, and I thought the players carried that out well.”
On showing fight and character
“I learned that they’re with us and they’re listening. If we ask something of them, they’ll really try to carry that out.
“The lads that will be here with us next year, that’s the kind of spirit and character and fight that we want here at the football club. I know that is a bare minimum, and it should be a bare minimum, but in this day and age, sometimes it just doesn’t happen that way
“We find ourselves in a really difficult position, but we’ve got to show pride and character and keep showing that fight, which I don’t think anyone can really level at us. Results maybe haven’t been great, but the lads are trying.”
On continuing the cup run
“It’s nice, it’s great to have more games. It’s a competition that I absolutely love. Being from here, and sitting and watching the FA Cup with my dad when I was younger, it’s why I love the competition.
“I’ve never been lucky enough to go really far in it, so nothing would please me more than us being able to progress and go further.
“Today was really important and it’s really important for us because it’s been a really dark season, so it gives a little bit of something for the fans to shout about and for us to try and build more momentum going forward.”
