Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Wolves: FA Cup

The Guardian

09-02-2025

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There was plenty to like about Emmanuel Dennis' performance today. He's not played in a while but looked sharp today and I'd expect him to nab Makhtar Gueye's centre-forward spot pretty quickly. Share
Back to our match, I thought Blackburn did pretty well – especially given they were playing a virtual second XI. They're away to fifth-placed West Brom on Wednesday and it makes sense that Eustace's priorities lie three – even if he might've left the club by then. Share
In Cuttack, Virat Kohli is out as India chase 305 to beat England and secure the ODI series. Share
In the women's FA Cup, Arsenal lead London City 1-0 and Man City lead Leicester 2-0, 34 gone in both. Palace v Newcastle is 0-0 after 75. Share
Our coverage of Plymouth v Liverpool is under way. Join Michael Butler here: Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool: FA Cup – live Share
The last 16:
1 Manchester United
2 Millwall
3 Brighton & Hove Albion
4 Preston North End
5 Exeter City or Nottingham Forest
6 Ipswich Town
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers
8 Fulham
9 Newcastle United
10 Plymouth Argyle or Liverpool
11 AFC Bournemouth
12 Aston Villa or Tottenham Hotspur
13 Burnley
14 Manchester City
15 Doncaster Rovers or Crystal Palace
16 Cardiff City Share
A comfortable enough win for Wolves, who are improving, while Blackburn competed well but lacked the penalty-box quality to make things close. And they'll now be feart their manager is off to Derby. Share
90+3 min Agbadou and Gueye indulge in a spot of wrestling. Share
90+3 min Chris Sutton gives player of the match to Cunha, involved in Wolves' first goal and scorer of their second. He might be the Premier League's funnest player. Share
90 min We'll have three additional minutes. Share
89 min Woodrow back into Agbadou, Harry Kane-style, and I do't know why those challenges aren't penalised with a booking – they're a lot, lot more dangerous than diving to win a free-kick. Meantime, Ait-Nouri slips a pass down the outside of the defender for Sarabia, who swivels into a shot … that Hyam blocks. He's played well today. Share
88 min Our Six Nations coverage is under way… Scotland v Ireland: Six Nations 2025 – live Share
87 min Sarabia slips a pass in behind, down the right, but there's too much on it and Munetsi can't catch up with it. He tries, though; his engine, enterprise and enthusiasm have been impressive so far. Share
86 min Nice from Gueye, who turns well and looks to slot a killer pass through the middle, but Agbadou intercepts. Share
85 min I really like Rayan Ait-Nouri, a beautifully poised footballer. I fear Wolves may lose him in the summer – and Cunha for that matter, in which case they'll have to hope for three more awful promoted sides. Share
84 min More changes: for Wolves, Ait-Nouri replaces Guedes, then Blackburn try Hedges for Forshaw. Share
82 min Buckley tees up Woodrow, who connects well but hits straight at Johnstone, who clears long and Joao Gomes is in! But Toth comes out at the last possible second to slide in and clear, then Blackburn counter, Gueye turning away from two men inside the box before walloping straight at Johnstone, then Wolves race back up the other end, Cunha rampaging down the right and crossing … for Sarabia, who cushions wide. What a couple of minutes that was! Toth saves from the feet of Gomes. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images Share
81 min Gueye collects Doherty's poor pass, then flops on to the the ground when he overruns; the ref gives a free-kick against a disbelieving Agbadou. Free-kick Blackburn, 30 yards out. Share
79 min Cunha, allowed space, clips over the top for the marauding Munetsi, whose drive and bravery have been impressive so far. But he can't get a proper shot away and might have done well to try a chip, given how far Toth was off his line. Share
78 min I don't see any way Wolves can get themselves relegated – they have too many good players and the teams below them are too poor. Everton, a place above them, are seven points away, and that might be a difficult gap to bridge between now and May, but they're moving in the right direction, I think. Share
76 min The corner is cleared to the edge, where Munetsi waits … and he absolutely clatters with his laces, a coupe of yards wide. Share
74 min Yup, Wolves look like they're going to score again. First, Cunha miscontrols a ball in behind but with everyone waiting for him to turn, instead flicks a chip that Hyam does brilliantly to head away from under the bar. Then, a few moments later, Cunha carries the ball across the face of the box and away from goal, lulling Blackburn into a sense of false security before exploding into the shot back across goal that Toth tips rround the post. Share
72 min The away fans cheers the passes as Wolves keep possession, Rodrigo Gomes pulling wide then adroitly working the ball inside on to his strong right foot, curling an inviting cross at which Munetsi launches himself, heading just wide of the far post. A third goal looks imminent. Share
70 min Lovely from Wolves, Munetsi carving an excellent pass through the lines to find Sarabia on the right. And with Cunha tanking into the box, he picks him out with a cross only for the header to go over the top. Share
68 min 'Don't Grasshoppers play in blue and white halves?' says Stuart Edwards. 'Is Bristol Rovers blue and white quarters 'uniquer'?'
Now that's just a rugby kit. grasshoppers blue and Photograph: Maximilian Gärtner/SPP/REX/Shutterstock Photograph: David Davies/PA Share
67 min And two changes for Blackburn: Woodrow and Weiman replace Kangbo and Dennis, both of whom have had their moments. Share
66 min Changes: Wolves send on Munetsi for a debut, along with Andre; they replace Guedes and Bellegarde. Share
65 min 'Flag-kick'; yes, I should just have repeated 'corner'. Share
64 min Nice from Blackburn, two sharp passes in midfield then a ball around the corner setting Dolan away. His cross is blocked behind, but the ensuing flag-kick comes to nowt. Share
63 min Toti clops out of defence and is tackled; he wants a foul but with none forthcoming he quickly robs Dennis to begin another Wolves attack. Share
61 min On the topic of Cunha, how good do we think he can be? I love his attitude and ball-carrying, but am not yet certain he can be a key player in a top side because I'm not yet certain he's got the game to create against deep blocks. I can't wait to find out though – he's loads of fun to watch. Share
60 min Wolves pass but with purpose, until Cunha is eventually penalised for a high foot when contesting a ball with Rankin-Costello. Share
59 min Dolan, by the way, spells his first name 'Tyrhys'. I know the 'y's do the job, but that's a lot of letters without a vowel. Share