Always Wolves
Always Wolves
FA CUP Grimsby Preview Wolves by Always Wolves 6 hours ago
GRIMSBY V WOLVES: MATCH PREVIEW
We look ahead to Grimsby v Wolves in the FA Cup with all the latest news, stats, facts and predictions.
TEAM NEWS
Wolves head to Grimsby with a few key names worth watching in the squad update. Toti looks set to miss out again as he continues to work back from a hamstring problem, with this game coming too soon for him. There is more hope around Andre, who has been dealing with a minor issue but trained late in the week and could be involved if he passes a final fitness check. Hwang is also expected to remain sidelined, with reports suggesting he is still a few weeks away from returning.
Grimsby go into the FA Cup tie with Wolves in good shape, with reports saying David Artell has a full squad to pick from and has had a boost from January additions. Jude Soonsup Bell is said to be back available after a head injury, while players like Charles Vernam and Jaze Kabia have been mentioned as possible return options. In midfield, George McEachran is expected to be fine despite coming off with cramp last time out.
Rob Edwards
Edwards confirmed Andre will train today, the “initial noises are that he’s fine” and he will be “hopefully involved on the weekend”.
Toti Gomes is “progressing really well” and will “hopefully” return to training at the beginning of next week while Hwang Hee-chan will not be fit for the weekend but the forward is “quite positive” and Edwards hopes he is “not out for too long”.
On remaining positive during a difficult Premier League campaign: “We’re in a difficult situation. We’re all fighting for something; our careers, the football club, our pride. It’s important that we show up and the lads are doing that.”
Reflecting on the midweek draw at Nottingham Forest, Edwards said: “We didn’t get everything right against Forest but we showed fight, determination and spirit. Those things are really important.”
Does the FA Cup provide an escape from the league?: “No. It doesn’t feel any different, it’s just another game. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a brilliant competition that we want to progress in. We’re treating it very normally and giving it everything we can. It’s not like we need a break from the league.”
Could academy players find opportunities?: “I never want to leave slots on the bench open so it gives opportunities over the next few months to some of the lads as the squad is tighter. If they’re deserving of it and keep working hard there might be one or two of them on the bench each week.”
Edwards was asked about his predecessor Vitor Pereira reportedly being close to replacing Sean Dyche as Forest manager, and Thomas Frank losing his job as Spurs boss: “I don’t like seeing people losing their jobs. There is a human being there with a family and people need to remember that. I wish Thomas and Sean the best, they are brilliant at what they do, and they will be back
MATCH STATS & FACTS
This is the first meeting between Grimsby Town and Wolves since the 2002-03 season, when Wolves won both league games in the second tier. They have won five of their last seven against the Mariners (D1 L1).
Wolves have progressed from three of their four FA Cup ties against Grimsby Town, failing only in a 1-0 defeat in the first round in 1988-89. They have scored five or more goals in three of their five games (inc. replays) against the Mariners in the competition.
Grimsby are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for a second time in four seasons, having gone to the quarter-final in 2022-23. Before this, they hadn’t reached that stage since 1995-96, when they drew 0-0 at home to Chelsea before losing the replay – the home game was the last time they hosted a Premier League side before this tie.
Wolves have progressed from five of their last six FA Cup fourth round ties, including in each of the last two seasons. They last reached the fifth round in three consecutive campaigns between 1979 and 1981.
Grimsby Town’s last two FA Cup games have been against teams beginning with W – Wealdstone in the second round and Weston-super-Mare in the third round. This century, there’s been two occasions a team has faced three W teams in a season and both times they’ve knocked out all three teams – Fulham in 2001-02 (Wycombe, Walsall, West Brom) and Southampton in 2017-18 (Watford, West Brom, Wigan).
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