Righto, Jamie Jackson’s match report is here:
Which means that’s us. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and do check in on the action we’ve got going on, but otherwise, peace out.
And we’ve just going going at Home Park.
We’re about to get going at Murrayfield.
Blackburn, meanwhile, are in a situation. They won’t get automatic promotion – they’re 14 points off Sunderland, who sit fourth – and if Eustace leaves, might well struggle to protect sixth. Or, put another way, their immediate future probably depends on a manager they’ve not yet appointed.
No doubt they’ll now draw Liverpool away next and get based, but Wolves have the chops to do something in this season’s Cup. They’re much improved at the back and in Cunha have a player able to score out of nothing with the confidence to try stuff in big games. No side will want to be paired with them in tomorrow evening’s draw.
Last time Liverpool visited Plymouth:
Elsewhere…
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.
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.
In Cuttack, Virat Kohli is out as India chase 305 to beat England and secure the ODI series.
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.
Our coverage of Plymouth v Liverpool is under way. Join Michael Butler here:
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
FULL TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
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.
90+3 min Agbadou and Gueye indulge in a spot of wrestling.
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.
90 min We’ll have three additional minutes.
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.
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88 min Our Six Nations coverage is under way…
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.
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86 min Nice from Gueye, who turns well and looks to slot a killer pass through the middle, but Agbadou intercepts.
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.
84 min More changes: for Wolves, Ait-Nouri replaces Guedes, then Blackburn try Hedges for Forshaw.
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!
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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.
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.
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.
76 min The corner is cleared to the edge, where Munetsi waits … and he absolutely clatters with his laces, a coupe of yards wide.
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.
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.
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.
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.
67 min And two changes for Blackburn: Woodrow and Weiman replace Kangbo and Dennis, both of whom have had their moments.
66 min Changes: Wolves send on Munetsi for a debut, along with Andre; they replace Guedes and Bellegarde.
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65 min “Flag-kick”; yes, I should just have repeated “corner”.
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.
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.
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.
60 min Wolves pass but with purpose, until Cunha is eventually penalised for a high foot when contesting a ball with Rankin-Costello.
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.
58 min Changes for Blackburn: of go Cozier-Duberry and Cantwell, on come Gueye nd Dolan.
57 min Cantwell will take the free-kick himself and he goes for goal, whipping in … but Johnstone flicks away firmly from under the bar.
56 min I like how Dennis has played today – he’s been a threat and hasn’t stopped trying to make things happen. And eh might have another chance coming up now, Cantwell having won a free-kick out on the left.
55 min Forshaw finds Dennis, who shifts it across his man then, from 20 yards, pulls a shot back whence he came – Johnstone fields easily – then expels a venomous double snot-rocket by way of consolation.
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53 min Nice from Cantwell, taking the ball away from Bellegarde and across the face of the box, but when he moves on one more to Cozier-Duberry, he slightly overhits the pass. And that’s enough to stop his man from shooting soo instead he slips back a return, which Cantwell splatters over the top.
52 min A long ball over the top and Kangbo looks to slide Dennis in, but Agbadou intervenes well. He’s played well today.
51 min “Surely I’m not the only one who can’t wait to have Blackburn at top flight again, emails Karen Asad. “Those good old days of Shearer have a lasting memory; it’s a travesty how far they have fallen.Maybe times have changed but isn’t their situation points to the fact that road to irrelevancy is not that off the beaten path? I’m looking at you Man United and Spurs.”
Those two clubs have too much money to fall this far but I agree: as a fan of a Premier League club, I miss trips to Ewood, and the mismanagement and exploitation that has left them where they are – about to lose a manager to a side in the relegation zone – should never have been allowed.
49 min Meantime, Wolves pen Blackburn back, a lovely take from Sarabia allowing him to feed Joao Gomes, who might shoot but, from the edge, opts instead to slide Cunha in but puts too much on the pass.
47 in “Don’t Deportivo Alavés wear blue and white halves too? asks Justin Kavanagh. “I’d say Croatia is the most distinctive in football. Unless you go way back to the Colorado Caribous of the 1970s. In which case, YEEE-HAAA!!!!|”
They have done but they don’t. And yup, I’ll give you Croatia but I was only thinking about club teams.
46 min We go again…
Back come our teams. Wolves bring on Matt Doherty for the booked Santiago Bueno, while Paolo Sarabia replaces the hamstrung Hwang.
Half-time entertainment:
HALF-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves look to have settled this with two goals in 37 seconds, but Blackburn have been a threat. If they score next – and they’ve plenty on the bench – this could get interesting.
45+3 min Hwang limps off and Wolves have a minute to survive with 10 men.
45+1 min Hwang is on hwis hwaunches and looks to have twanged a hwamstring. I’m not sure we’ll see him after the break.
45 min The corner is cleared then Agbadou shows lovely feet to spin away from Kargbo when under pressure inside his own box; Kargbo hauls him down and needs to be careful given he’s been booked.
43 min While I’m engaged on the below crucial business, Blackburn win a free-kick down the right; Wolves clear but Cozier-Duberry halts the counter and finds Forshaw, who lifts a nice ball over the top and Dennis is on to it. He watches as it drops and swivels into a shot … that Johnstone saves with his legs at cost of a corner.
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41 min Wolves’ kits don’t really look old gold; they look like Sutton United circa 1989.
39 min This has been an enjoyable half, but the match might be over. Blackburn look like they’ve a goal in them but two, without conceding? That seems unlikely.
38 min Better from Blackburn, Dennis’ lovely first-time touch around the corner finding Rankin-Costello in space on the right of the box. He might shoot, he might cross … so he does neither, his something nondescript missing both the far corner and the man at the far post.
GOAL! Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Cunha 35)
It’s another! This time, one long pass gets Wolves in behind, Hwang holding up and finding Cunha on the edge, dead centre. He almost loses possession but does well to hang on, moving it right and, in the time it takes him to dart in behind, the ball goes through Bellegarde then Semedo, who slides a terrific pass that meets his run; the finish, low across goal, is deadly. There were 37 seconds between the two goals and the tie has surely been settled in that time.
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GOAL! Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Joao Gomes 33)
Again, Wolves spring when Blackburn try and play out then Guedes, on the right of the box, fires into Hwang, arriving on the edge. He moves it on first-time to Gomes who controls really well, one touch taking the ball out of his feet and setting up the second, a flick across goal while almost airborne that the keeper ought really to stop.
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31 min Joao Gomes jumps on to Cozier-Duberry and finds Cunha, who shoots straight at Toth. Wolves have won possession high a few times now; Blackburn need to be careful.
30 min But this time, Cunha’s corner goes behind.
28 min Wolves win a corner down the left and, if they’ve any sense, Blackburn’s attackers will be readying themselves to spring.
26 min Blackburn are looking dangerous on the counter, Forshaw flipping wide to Kargbo, who keeps it in well and makes straight for the already-booked Bueno, tossing lollipops as he goes. Once inside the box, he darts inside then, as Agbado comes across, through the gap between them, hitting the deck as the defender moves his foot away. He’s booked for diving and rightly so.
24 min Wolves win a corner down the right but Hyam heads clear and Buckley immediately cuts across a fine pass through the middle for Cozier-Duberry … but Rodrigo Gomes hares back to make a fine challenge.
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22 min “I have little sympathy for the big clubs when it comes to the number of games they’re playing, writes Andy Flintoff. “There’s a good reason why they’ve stockpiled all the international talent into a 25-man squad (plus all those that are out on loan because they’ve been stockpiling all the young talent across the world too).”
I agree. The quickest way to redress the balance would be to reduce the number of subs – but of course Arne slot and ilk are arguing for more, in order to keep fringe players happy.
20 min We don’t get a good shot across the line, but that was very close; I wonder if the linesman was circumspect because of the Harry Maguire goals that wasn’t disallowed on Friday night. And I also wonder if, since VAR, officials are generally more likely to be cautious when making decisions, in the knowledge that, should they make a howler, chances are they’ll be saved.
19 min Buckley curls to the far post and Hyam does really well to head across goal and in, but the flag’s up and there’s no VAR.
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18 min Kargbo bustles by Bellegarde then forces himself away from Bueno, who eventually succeeds in hacking him down. He’s booked and Blackburn have a free-kick out on the left.
16 min Cunha skirts around the outside of Buckley, who brings him down and is booked. That’s a silly one because there was no imminent danger; perhaps that was a challenge administered on reputation, the Brazilian’s ball-carrying now feared around the country.
14 min Wolves work the ball to the edge of the box and Hwang leathers a low shot … that Batth blocks superbly. Both sides are looking to attack here, and though we’ve not seen much quality yet, the intensity is increasing.
12 min Cantwell wins a free-kick out on the right, pumped into the box to little avail, Rodrigo Gomes eventually blocking off Cozier-Duberry, who looks lively. Blackburn are into this now, Dennis looking sharp he’s given not played in a long; Rankin-Costello crosses low and misses everyone.
10 min And here comes Blackburn, Kargbo – making his full debut for the club – picking up a switch and feeding Ribeiro, outside him. Then, when the cut-back arrives, he shifts it to open a shooting lane before thwacking over the bar.
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9 min Joao Gomes struts into midfield, exchanging passes with Cunha … only to be quickly crowded out. Wolves are dominating possession but they’ve not created anything yt.
8 min Dennis flicks wide to Cozier-Duberry, who dips inside and wafts a shot miles from anywhere.
6 min I should note, by the way, that if scores are level at full time, we’ll play extra time. Unless, of course, Uefa have cancelled it.
5 min And Cunha goes for goal, catching his shot nicely but hitting it straight at Toth.
5 min Nice turn from Cunha so Cozier-Duberry hauls him down. Free-kick Wolves, 35 yards out, the Brazilian behind it.
3 min Forshaw tries a long pass in behind for Kargbo, which skids through to Johnstone but probably evidences how Blackburn intend to play today: they’ll want to get the ball forward quickly and use the pace of their wingers to worry Wolves.
2 min The pitch, by the way, doesn’t look too bad.
2 min Toth dithers on the ball and Hwang presses him; he just about swishes to Hyam and Blackburn clear.
1 min I know this is tautologous, but is Blackburn’s kit the most unique in football? As far as I know one else plays in blue and white halves.
1 min Away we go!
Here come the teams!
Our teams are tunnelled. Will this be Eustace’s last game as manager? It does’t feel right that he’d want to leave given Blackburn are sixth in the table; that he’d consider it tells us plenty about the club’s ambition or lack thereof.
Eustace tells BBC he wants to get game-time into the legs of his new signings, and his bench is strong with players he hopes can come on and make an impact after an hour.
Pereira, meanwhile, notes a tough opponent and tough pitch. His team need to run, fight, win duels and second balls – “this is football in England”.
Where is the game? Blackburn will, I think, look to get at Wolves down the sides, in behind the wing-backs. They’ll also hope their midfield three will outnumber Wolves’ two, though Cunha and Hwang are both able to drop in.
The visitors, meanwhile, will look to feed Cunha whenever possible – his ball-carrying ability could be crucial – with Guedes attacking the space in behind.
Email! “Rovers and Wanderers do not inspire much confidence in a specific direction or focus, do they?” notes Krishnamoorthy V.
How dare you, it’s British whimsy at its best. Tangentially, I always loved how James Alexander Gordon pronounced the latter, almost adding an extra “er”.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Amario Oswald Gerardo Cozier-Duberry get on today. The 19-year-old winger was highly regarded when at Arsenal and might just provide the unpredictability Blackburn have been missing.
It’s also worth noting that Blackburn give debuts to recent arrivals Yuri Ribeiro and Emmanuel Dennis. The latter, on loan from Nottingham Forest, could prove to be a really smart acquisition.
On the Wolves bench today are Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga, Zimbabwean and Burkinabé respectively, both signed in the recent transfer window. Let’s see if they get on to the pitch.
Wolves, meanwhile, make five alterations. Out go Sa, Doherty, Andre, Ait-Nouri and Sarabia; in come Johnstone, Bueno, Gomes R, Gomes J and Hwang.
As expected, Blackburn make changes – eight of them – from the midweek defeat at QPR. Out go Pears, Brittain, Beck, Travis, Dolan, Weimann, Hedges and Gueye; in come Toth, Rankin-Costello, Ribeiro, Forshaw, Cozier-Duberry, Cantwell, Kangbo and Dennis, which is to say Batth and Hyam, the centre-backs, and Buckley, a defensive midfielder, are those who keep their paces. All those omitted are on the bench.
I’ll write these down, then we’ll have a wonder about what they mean.
Teams!
Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1): Toth; Rankin-Costello, Hyam, Batth, Ribeiro; Forshaw, Buckley; Cozier-Duberry, Cantwell, Kargbo; Dennis. Subs: Pears, Brittain, Beck, Travis, Hodges, Weimann, Dolan, Woodrow, Gueye.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-4-2-1-): Johnstone; Bueno, Agbadou, Toti; Semedo, Gomes J, Bellegarde, Gomes R; Cunha, Hwang; Guedes. Subs: Bentley, Doherty, Ait-Nouri, Munetsi, Andre, Doyle, Sarabia, Forbs, Djiga.
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Get into the mood:
However trouble is brewing for Blackburn: Derby County, 22nd in the Champo, have made a formal approach to take Eustace as their new manager. Which seems a strange thing, but Eustace played for Derby and would, you imagine, be given more money – for himself and to spend on the team. You never know what’ll happen but the way this is being reported, it feels inevitable.
Preamble
1883–84, 1884–85, 1885–86, 1889–90, 1890–91, 1927–28; 1892–93, 1907–08, 1948–49, 1959–60. It’s been a while and it’s fair to say the world has changed somewhat in the interim, but these clubs, who met in the 1960 final, have won this competition 10 times between them and, though both have other priorities this season – Blackburn to go up, Wolves to stay up – both sets of fans understand its importance to their identity.
The question, though, is how the managers see it. The Championship’s unrelenting cycle of Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday means John Eustace will surely be tempted to rotate – currently, his side occupy the last of the playoff positions with the eight clubs below all within five points. Moreover, Blackburn’s tally of 35 league goals is fewer than all save the last, meaning their attackers – Makhtar Gueye and Andreas Weimann – might be deemed too valuable to risk.
Wolves, meanwhile, arrive at this game having recorded a crucial victory over Aston Villa last weekend, and there’s a decent chance Vitor Pereira will want to sustain the good vibes. He went with a strong XI for the round-three tie at Bristol City and, given a trip to Anfield comes next, probably won’t want his best players to be without a game in two weeks.
And, either way, this should be a decent tussle, a good, honest old-fashioned FA Cup tie suffused with the unmistakeable stench of Woodbines, rickets and cliche. Let’s have it.
Kick-off: 12.30pm GMT
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