Wolves boss Nuno’s delight after hard-fought victory

HANDBAGS in the tunnel, a frantic finale and even a contested drop ball – this was a good old-fashioned FA Cup tie with no love lost between the managers.

Ivan Cavaleiro’s 28th-minute winner settled it as Wolves reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003. Boss Nuno Espirito Santo described the win as a moment of joy.

“Both teams fought very hard and we had to be brave,” he said.

“I’m very happy, it was very tough, but I’m happy for the fans and it was a moment of joy.

“We try to find solutions, but it was hard when they put so many behind the ball and with long balls into the box all the time.

“In the first half they gave us space, we had space and the chances to score, but then they changed it and they are a tough team. Now we will see what comes next.”

Wolves’ winner was the first shot in the game and credit to Matt Doherty’s determination on the right flank.

Forgettable

He all but ran through Jay Dasilva, took a moment to look up and picked out Cavaleiro, whose side-footed shot somehow found a way through Tomas Kalas and keeper Frank Fielding on the line.

Apart from the goal it had been a totally forgettable opening 30 minutes. Then two minutes later, the Wolves wing-back was at it again.

First Doherty played a one-two with Leander Dendoncker, then with Raul Jimenez before hitting a deflected shot against the face of the post.

It was inevitable that City boss Lee Johnson would make changes at half-time and he bolstered his midfield with the introduction of Marlon Pack and Matty Taylor in a switch to a back three.

The changes seemed to give the home side more belief.

With promotion to fight for, Johnson had made changes to his starting line-up but five was clearly too many to keep the momentum of a side who had won nine games on the trot – a feat unparalleled in Europe this season.

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