Wolves secured a convincing 2-1 victory over Bristol City in the FA Cup, with early goals from Rayan Aït-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes proving to be the difference. Despite the pre-match skepticism surrounding Wolves, who were coming off a heavy Premier League loss, the team displayed resilience and quality to overcome their Championship opponents.
Manager Vítor Pereira made a few changes to the lineup, with Sam Johnstone, André, and new signing Emmanuel Agbadou all starting. Agbadou, who joined from Reims on a four-and-a-half-year deal, had an impressive debut, showing calmness on the ball and solid defensive abilities. His performance was particularly notable as he played on the left side of the defense despite being naturally right-footed. Pereira praised Agbadou’s consistency, especially considering the challenges of playing on the left without his stronger foot.
The match began with Wolves asserting dominance, controlling possession and creating early chances. However, it was Bristol City who had the first opportunity when Scott Twine won a free-kick in a dangerous area, but his effort was easily saved by Johnstone. Wolves responded quickly, with Aït-Nouri forcing a good save from City goalkeeper Max O’Leary. The visitors continued to press, earning a corner that was initially cleared but then recycled by João Gomes. Aït-Nouri made no mistake with his header, giving Wolves the lead.
Bristol City appealed for a handball against Aït-Nouri, but the officials allowed the goal to stand, with the video assistant referee (VAR) not in operation for this round of the competition. Wolves’ supporters, who had been vocal from the start, celebrated as their team doubled the lead shortly after. Slick passing between Jørgen Strand Larsen and Gonçalo Guedes opened up space for Rodrigo Gomes, who finished calmly to make it 2-0.
Despite being two goals down, Bristol City didn’t give up. They started to create more opportunities, particularly through Fally Mayulu. Their persistence paid off when Twine scored a stunning free-kick to reduce the deficit, sparking wild celebrations in the stands and giving the home side renewed hope heading into the second half.
In the second half, Bristol City pushed forward in search of an equalizer, and they came close when Ross McCrorie’s free-kick struck the crossbar. The ball rebounded into the goal area, but Wolves managed to clear it, holding on to their slim advantage. The match was marred by an injury to Marcus McGuane, who was forced off after receiving treatment for a blow to the head. Manager Liam Manning stated that they would need to assess McGuane’s condition before making any further decisions.
Wolves held firm, and despite a few nervy moments, they managed to see out the game and progress to the next round. Pereira emphasized that the priority for Wolves remains survival in the Premier League, where they are currently 17th. With a busy schedule ahead, including a crucial trip to Newcastle, Pereira stressed the importance of using matches like this to build team cohesion and improve their play. He expressed confidence that once key players return from injury and new signings settle in, Wolves will have a strong enough squad to stay in the Premier League.
While the FA Cup win was important, Pereira’s focus remained on the league, and he highlighted the need to continue improving and developing the team’s style of play.
