Premier League strugglers Wolves overcame resolute Grimsby Town in challenging conditions at Blundell Park to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

Santiago Bueno scored from Wolves' only shot on target with an hour played, diverting Joao Gomes' cross past goalkeeper Jackson Smith with his thigh to end the League Two club's resistance.

Unrelenting rainfall caused heavy ground underfoot and one penalty area in particular- that of Grimsby's Smith in the first half - was already a quagmire before kick-off.

Charles Vernam shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box with just 43 seconds on the clock as Grimsby sought to catch their top-flight visitors cold.

Wolves had to wait until the 17th minute for their first opportunity of note, forward Tolu Arokodare firing over with a first-time attempt.

The white paint of the pitch markings soon blended and blurred with the mud as the surface rapidly deteriorated, and both sides struggled to stitch together cohesive attacks as passes travelled unpredictably across the sodden ground.

The visitors were incensed when Cameron McJannet was shown only a yellow card after bringing down Adam Armstrong as the forward threatened to burst into the penalty area, but they went closer still to breaking the deadlock as Gomes crashed the resulting free-kick off the crossbar.

Grimsby's Tyrell Warren headed off target after timing his back-post run to meet a corner shortly before half-time, while Armstrong blazed over when presented with an opportunity after Smith mis-hit a clearance following the restart.

Grimsby responded to Bueno's opener with greater urgency but Andy Cook could not beat Sam Johnstone with his late header when the hosts registered their first attempt on target in the 90th minute, before Bueno produced a superb late block to avoid extra-time.

While rarely threatening to extend their lead, Wolves held out to ensure they will be in Monday's draw for the fifth round.

As far as the Premier League is concerned, Wolves' fate has long appeared sealed.

Rock-bottom for much of the campaign, they are 18 points adrift of safety with 12 games remaining - and an end to their eight-season stay in the top flight seems inevitable.

But the FA Cup still offers Rob Edwards' side the opportunity to salvage some joy from an otherwise dismal season.

And this was a gritty performance in tough conditions against highly motivated opponents, who stunned Manchester United in the League Cup earlier this season.

While Wolves had not tasted victory since their 6-1 FA Cup third-round win over League Two Shrewsbury Town on 10 January, in-form Grimsby were unbeaten in 10 games and enjoyed a run to the FA Cup quarter-finals as recently as 2023.

But, although Wolves have managed just one top-flight win all season, their back-to-back FA Cup victories and a place in the fifth round offers supporters something to look forward to.

Their side had to remain disciplined and focused until the final whistle in conditions reminiscent of a bygone era, the pitch proving a leveller across four tiers of English football and preventing either side from building any meaningful momentum.

By doing so, Wolves have extended their cup ambitions into March and will be one of a maximum of 11 Premier League teams in the competition's last 16.