Wolves battle back to sink Shrewsbury

Having been moments away from a shock defeat in their first encounter, Wolves had to overcome more Shrewsbury scares before earning a fifth-round trip to Bristol City.

The visitors, managed by former Wolves captain Sam Ricketts, had been two goals up with 15 minutes left before the Premier League side staged a late rally at New Meadow. This time they led 2-1 before being overpowered.

Given that the quarter-finals will include only two of the current top six in the Premier League, seventhplaced Wolves clearly have a chance to reach the final at least, although to do so they will need to play at a higher level than they were able to demonstrate in this match, as head coach Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged.

“It is job done and I’m happy to be in the fifth round, of course, but there are a lot of things we have to improve on,” he said. “Credit to Shrewsbury, who gave us two very close games but I expected more from some of my players.”

Wolves got off to a flying start, Matt Doherty stabbing the ball into the goal after the visitors failed to clear a corner in the second minute.

Shrewsbury drew level in the 11th minute when lax marking allowed James Bolton to head home an Ollie Norburn corner.

The League One strugglers took the lead after a horrible mistake by Wolves keeper John Ruddy, who allowed a speculative shot by Josh Laurent to squirm through his hands and trickle over the line.

The visitors’ elation was brief, though, because misfortune befell their goalkeeper, Steve Arnold, in first-half stoppage time. He spilt a Jonny Otto cross and the loose ball was forced in by Doherty.

After going behind to a fine Ivan Cavaleiro solo effort 16 minutes into the second half, Shrewsbury continued to battle, and the pressure was on the home side towards the end. Ricketts felt there was a foul in the build-up to the third Wolves goal, but said: “I’m proud, my lads gave everything right to the end.” Wolves (3-4-3) Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Gibbs-white, Saiss, Otto; Adama (Jimenez 77), Cavaleiro (Ennis 89), Costa (Moutinho 69). Subs Norris (g), Neves, Giles, Dendoncker. Shrewsbury Town (3-4-2-1): Arnold; Vincelot (Sears 38), Waterfall, Beckles; Bolton, Norburn, Laurent, Haynes; Docherty, Gilliead (Whalley 66); Okenabirhie (Amadi-holloway 78). Subs Charles-cook (g), Edwards, Rowland, Ward. Booked Norburn.

Referee Lee Probert (Wiltshire).