Ivan Cavaleiro goal enough for Wolves to reach FA Cup quarter-finals in win over Bristol City

Ivan Cavaleiro of Wolverhampton Wanderers (obscured) celebrates as he scores his team's first goal with team mates during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Bristol City and Wolverhampton 
A single goal separated the teams and sent Wolves into the last eight Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Wolverhampton Wanderers are becoming the most unwelcome party guests at Ashton Gate. Having launched the slow and painful death of Bristol City's promotion hopes with victory here last year, Nuno Espirito Santo's men rode their luck this time to kill off the host's proud recent run as Europe's most in-form team.

Nuno, who previously apologised for overzealous celebrations when these two teams last met, said progression to the FA Cup quarter-finals was a "moment of joy". Wolves had considered their opponents equals. Not even Manchester City have enjoyed a better recent run of results than City had until yesterday.

Once again tempers would flair as City coaching staff were enraged by the Wolves response to a winning goal. Jamie McAllister, the Robins first team assistant head coach, escaped with a booking after being pulled away by teammates during a half-time scuffle. "This time I wasn't involved," Nuno smiled afterwards. 

Lee Johnson, the City manager, said afterwards that it was "handbags" and instead pointed out that the true moment of controversy had been Wolves' winning goal, which should have been stopped during the build up for a disruptive handball before Matt Doherty broke clear and crossed into the path of goalscorer Ivan Cavaleiro.  "I wasn't sure if we were playing Wolves or the Harlem Globetrotters at one point," said Johnson.

City were also denied a penalty during the second-half after Jay Dasilva's cross deflected against the arm of Wolves' Doherty. When Nuno was asked whether he thought the video assistant referee would have penalised his defender, the manager said: "If you ask me, I don't want VAR... The referees are well prepared and I'm afraid that will change the real game."

For the second time in just over a year the visit of Wolves came amid heady days for Johnson's men. Last season the team had recently beaten Manchester United in the League Cup and were at the time the closest challengers to last year's Championship title winners. After that match the wheels fell of City's season, but this time Johnson's can take heart from an improved second-half performance. Wolves were lucky to weather a late City onslaught - including a shot from goalkeeper Frank Fielding - to end the Robins' brilliant run of nine wins and a draw, including two prior wins in the FA Cup against Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town. 

Ivan Cavaleiro celebrates scoring the only goal of the game
Ivan Cavaleiro celebrates scoring the only goal of the game Credit: Reuters

City had taken a while to settle in against Wolves' industrious 3-5-2 set up. Kasey Palmer, the on-loan Chelsea attacker, was given a roaming licence for the home side in the No 10 role, and appeared the home side's most promising option as they struggled to turn possession into chances. Ten minutes in he latched on to a neat interchange with Josh Brownhill, turning elegantly, but his attempted angled through-ball for Famara Diedhiou was heavy-footed. A similar result ensued when Palmer latched on to a one-two with Dasilva five minutes later.

Wolves broke the deadlock on 28 minutes when Doherty skinned Dasilva down the right and the ball appeared to bounced up and hit the fullback's hand. Play carried on, however, and he sent a low cross into the path of Cavaleiro, whose close-range effort slipped through the grasp of Fielding.

Doherty was fast emerging as Wolves' most potent threat. With plenty of room on Wolves' right channel, he then darted in to flash an effort against the post.

Bristol City's English defender Adam Webster (L) reacts to their defeat as Wolverhampton Wanderers' English midfielder Conor Coady (C) consoles Bristol City's English striker Matty Taylor (R) on the pitch after the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Bristol City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol
Wolves ended Bristol City's fine run of form Credit: Getty images

With Diedhiou isoltated, Johnson was unimpressed and changed his team's set-up at half-time, withdrawing the inexperienced pairing of Niclas Eliasson and Joe Morrell in favour of striker Matty Taylor and Marlon Pack.

With increased midfield presence, Pack, who won praise last year praised from Pep Guardiola, immediately restored calm. On 52 minutes, City would rue a shocking miss. O'Dowda burst down the right, before aiming a neat cut back in to the onrushing Dasilva, one of three on-loan Chelsea players in City's line up. His body language said it all, however, as he leaned back and fired over to the despair of the noisy home end. Taylor was also a welcome introduction, but found close range strikes blocked by Wolves' burly back three.

At the other end, Wolves were a finger tip save from doubling their lead. Joao Moutinho sent in a blistering free-kick from 18-yards but Fielding reacted well to tip over. Nuno hinted afterwards that he is now starting to dream of lifting the FA Cup. "I don't rotate the team," he said. "Doing so well gives us the chance to become a better team. I believe we can win every match."

Bristol City (4-4-1-1): Fielding; Dasilva, Kalas, Webster, Wright; O'Dowda, Brownhill, Morrell (Pack 46), Eliasson (Taylor 46); Kalas; Palmer (Paterson 66); Diedhiou.

Subs: O’Leary, Baker, Watkins, Kelly.

Wolves (3-4-3): Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Saiss, Moutinho, Doherty (Neves 80); Dendoncker, Cavaleiro (Gibbs-White 70), Jimenez (Traore 90).

Subs: Norris, Costa, Vinagre, Ennis.

Man of the match: Doherty.

                                                                                                    

FULL TIME

Wolves hang on to reach the quarter-finals. Bristol City got their setup all wrong but changed things at half time and were right in it. 

90 mins+5 - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

City have no time left to find this equaliser. They're throwing everything and everyone at it but Wolves equal to it. Another cross from wide right is floated, the forward at the back post LEEEEAAAAAPS and it's headed behind for a corner! The goalkeeper comes up! The ball pings around, the goalie is there, he VOLLEYS AT GOAL! It's saved, City keep up the pressure and Boly punts it forward.

And that's that!

90 mins+2 - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Adama Traore comes on to bounce and dribble his way through the City defence on the counter-attack at 100mph. Jimenez takes forever to leave the pitch. 

90 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Wolves sitting with a deep line, switching play, linking passes through the midfield. Five minutes of stoppage time to come!

88 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

City win a free-kick 40 yards from goal, Boly is booked for kicking the ball away. It's chipped in, headed on... and Ruddy touches it over the bar! Another corner. 

AND THAT'S THE CHANCE! Oh lordy. The ball comes in, it's headed on and Pack is inside the six yard box and just doesn't read the bounce. His shot is lifted over the bar and I reckon that'll be enough for Wolves to hold on.

85 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

 There's that dog! What a lovely dog. I wonder if any of the away fans have wolves as pets. 

Meanwhile, in football, it feels a little bit like Bristol City are probably getting one more big chance to get back into this one but that's it... Wolves are sitting back and looking to hit them on the counter.

83 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Mistake by Kalas! He can't control the ball fired his way, slips, Jimenez wins possession and threads in Gibbs-White. He has the keeper to beat from a tight angle but is denied! Corner.

The corner is crossed in, the ball pings around a bit, Boly lets the ball drop from the air and then goes for a power volley which flies over the bar.

80 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

City have a corner, it's not deal with, the ball is struck forwards and it's all a bit pin-ball - this is a chance! Corner. Wolves are just defending in numbers, unable to really get on the ball. The pressure is up, they work passes around the Wolves box and space opens up for Pack TO SHOOOOOOOT! Straight down the barrel. Ruddy has an easy save.

78 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Close for Wolves! Moutinho does a little shuffle and then powers his free-kick at goal.

There's a lot of dip and whip on it and the goalie has to get a hand to the ball to push it onto the bar and over for a corner! 

The corner comes to nothing. 

75 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

93 per cent possession has been Bristol City's over the previous five minutes. Conor Coady getting his teammates to calm down and just play out the final part of this game. 

Jimenez runs in behind and the ball comes through to him! Kalas knows it and brings him to the floor - he was clean through if that hadn't happened! The referee shows a yellow. Could easily have been red.

72 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

The camera has just cut to fan sitting with a dog in the stands. The dog is wearing a Wolves shirt, which is nice. Peter Drury has a bit of fun with it and then goes, "what a beautiful beast" and I just really hope he's referring to the dog. 

69 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Oooooooh! Close for City! Brownhill does some good things on the right wing, overlaps and gets a low cross into the area. It comes off a Wolves foot and nearly turns past the goalkeeper! 

City in control now Pack has the ball about 35 yards out and fancies a hit... and he strikes it well! Ruddy gets down to save low in the corner.

66 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Free-kick Wolves on the right wing. Moutinho crosses low, Jimenez drops to meet it but has his shot blocked. 

Bristol are much better in this half but still haven't really threatened the Wolves goal - I'm not sure Ruddy has had anything to do other than hit goal kicks up the pitch.

63 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Credit: AFP

 Wolves are starting to get a little more into the half now. Passing the ball around, moving well.

60 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

City win a free-kick just wide right of the box, about 12 yards out. The big lads are all forward, only the left-back isn't forward. It's curled in with power... and out for a goal kick. Awful.

57 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Bristol City have the metaphorical wind behind them and keeping getting forward. Wolves no longer have numerical superiority and City can play - the switch at half time has changed this game.

54 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Ooooooooohhhh there could be a penalty here! Dasilva crosses from the left and it clearly comes off Doherty's arm! The referee says no and because of no VAR... well you know.

Bristol City keep coming, the ball sits up for Dasilva to hit... and he's struck it on his (much weaker) right foot, getting the effort nowhere the goal.

51 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

The crowd is much louder in this half which should help. City are passing through the lines way better too, it's a different team. Wolves' front two are poised ready to pounce though, it's important City don't go all out attack too early.

48 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Wolves can sit and counter now of course, which suits their style perfectly. City have width and bodies in the centre of the pitch to aim towards now but a cross is headed away, the ball is switched to the opposite flanks and Cavaleiro tries to get away at goal but fouls the defender and the move breaks down.

KICK OFF 2

We're back. Santo's inspecting the subs and trying to suss out what that means for City's shape. They've gone to a 5-3-2 by the looks of things.

Two changes for City

Morrell and Eliasson off, Pack and Taylor on. What difference will that make?

Why a change of shape?

Wolves' 3-4-3 means they have numbers over everywhere against the 4-4-2. The wing-backs are wingers, meaning City's full-backs are busy with those, which means the centre-backs are stretched and having to deal with one central striker and two inside forwards. The central midfielders have to drop deeper to help out, leaving Wolves with the ball in midfield and nobody challenging. 

The strikers can't do much so are effectively wasted players at the moment, while the wide midfielders can't get in the game. A 4-5-1 means the wide midfielders can track the wing-backs, there are three midfielders (so a three vs two) and the back four has advantage over Wolves' three. The 4-1-4-1 might work but the defensive midfielder will likely just get lost against Wolves' slightly deeper forward line - they still win that battle even with this change.

Let's see what Johnson does for the second half. 

A photo of the goal

Credit: REUTERS

And here's one better - a video of it!

 

HALF TIME

Wolves are clearly the better team but aren't being made to work for this lead. Bristol City need a change of shape to get back in the game. They also need far more aggression. It's all a bit nice and clean when the best way to put Wolves off and get a hold of the ball is some intensity and some lower league challenges - get at them! 

By the end of the half it looked like City had changed to a 4-1-4-1, which makes sense.

44 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Jimenez wants a penalty as he runs in behind the City defence and then falls to the floor as he feels an arm on his shoulder. No way. 

Jimenez then does win his foul as he's held back running through the centre of City's midfield. Free-kick to Wolves.

41 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Palmer gets a header on goal, timing his run from deep really well to arrive unopposed in the area. He should actually do a lot better - the Wolves defenders didn't attack the cross from wide right aggressively at all and with no heads going in, he had a great chance to get a shot on target. Needed to be a bit braver.

Another City attack is easily stopped by Wolves, who lead them into wide areas and then steal the ball.

38 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

City can't keep the ball. Wolves dominating them all over the pitch.

35 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

Wolves' wing-backs keep finding space in behind the City defence, Santo's 3-4-3 shape is giving them extra numbers everywhere. And now Dendoncker is in! He runs from midfield, gets the pass over the top and hits a shot at the goalkeeper which is turned behind for a corner. 

City could really do with changing their shape. The 4-4-2 is being pulled apart - a 4-5-1 would give them better defensive cover in the wide spaces and ensure they aren't being outnumbered in midfield. 

32 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 1

WOLVES HIT THE POST! Oh boy that was a beautiful passing move, Bristol City torn apart. Doherty links with Jimenez, who flicks a pass to the wing-back in the reverse of a one-two, and Doherty tries a shot to the far post from a tight angle. It takes a deflection off the defender and bounces back out into the box, then is cleared. 

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL

And Wolves take the lead! 

Bristol City 0 Wolves 1 (Cavaleiro 28')

Doherty is able to get past the left-back (a Chelsea loanee) and and tucks his pass back to the edge of the box. Cavaleiro is there to slot the ball low into the net, the goalkeeper not able to stop it beating him. 

28 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

Bristol City have a free-kick 35 yards from goal (ish) in the right half space. It's curled into the penalty spot... and the goalkeeper catches. Serious lack of quality in the final third on show here. These two look like they're prepared to wait as long as it takes for the other to make a mistake.

25 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Jimenez breaks away in behind the defence, is onside and goes for the lob from 25 yards! The ball is wide of the goal but the linesman had his flag up... even though Jimenez was onside. But no, there's no need for VAR. No reason at all.

22 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

City attack down the left and get the ball into the area but Wolves are equal to it and head away. City keep the ball a bit, Brownhill drops between the centre-backs to start buildup and they use the wings to get the ball forward. No crosses towards a striker yet.

19 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

No shots on goal. Bristol City trying to keep the ball in midfield but don't seem to have much in the final third, Wolves can't quite create anything when they get close to the box.

16 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

Jonny works hard to touch the ball round Wright and wins a free-kick wide left. Moutinho stands over it. Diedhiou heads away inside the six yard box, Wolves keep up the pressure.

13 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

Great play by Wolves. They soak up a brief Bristol City attack, Moutinho wins the tackle and then Dendoncker sends a midfielder back to university with a drop shoulder feint, playing in Doherty. City are able to deal with the danger when it reaches their box. 

11 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

Moutinho plays a beautiful wee chipped pass over the defence into Doherty's path but the goalkeeper comes off his line to collect quickly. All Wolves.

9 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

One bold individual tries to get the Bristol City fans revved up by yelling "COME ON YOOOOOOOUUUUUUU REDS" but nobody seems to join in. Wolves are in total control of the ball at the moment, everyone in the City half. Bristol City defending in a 4-4-2 shape.

6 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

Wolves fans are singing the classic "is this a library?" song because they have grown tired of the football and wish to read a book. Modern football. Tut tut tut. You have to wait for the action! These kids have no patience... though they do all adore to read.

3 mins - Bristol City 0 Wolves 0

The teams look fairly evenly matched here, City passing around, trying to play out from the back but met with the high Wolves press.

KICK OFF

And they're off! Bristol City's camera angle is very high and wide.

Peter Drury on comms

YAS! If you weren't feeling the passion before, it's about to go up a notch. Just imagine the pearls Drury has written ready to yell out this afternoon.

Nuno Santo is playing football cliches

How important is the FA Cup?

It's always very important. Each game we compete is the most important game we have. 

Ping!

It's always the intention to build a strong side, we have a short squad so we try to choose the best options for the game.

They are in a good moment, good team, good manager, we expect a tough game.

Lee Johnson on the shenanigans the last time these two met.

That was more the other staff! The last game Nuno got sent off! I'm sure we'll have a drink after the game.

 

Ince and Cole love the FA Cup

Credit: PA

Ince and Cole are making me fancy the FA Cup, talking about how if they were playing nowadays, this is the competition they want to win. "We used to play a game called Wembley at school, it's a great day out for the fans" says Ince. It doesn't pay as much as the Premier League or Europe though. Bring back the Cup Winners' Cup! 

Andy Cole is on the TV

That's a welcome sight! Cole used to play for Bristol City before finding his fame and fortune at Newcastle and Man Utd. Paul Ince is also on BT Spot's pundit team as a former Wolves player.

Starting lineups

 

HOT FA CUP ACTION

It's here, it's live and it's football. What a world! Welcome to our liveblog in which the giants of Bristol City take on the mighty Wolves in a cup clash that will light up your Sunday afternoon. 

Goals, yellow cards, offsides - they're all going to be here and we'll be covering every single one of the various things that happen throughout the following 90 minutes (and potentially extra time then penalties) on this here liveblog. Are you pumped yet?!

Lee Johnson, that nice man who nearly beat Man City a couple of seasons ago has said:

"We have to be brave, bold and we're the underdog. We like that status in cup games and historically those teams have always performed well in that mindset.

"We're under no illusions this will be a good, difficult game but we'll do our best and see where that takes us."

While in the gold corner, former goalkeeper Nuno Espirito Santo has said:

"All of us are different. I just try to follow my instincts and sometimes I know that I make mistakes.

"At the same time, I admit them, I apologise when I have to and I try to avoid them in the future."

What will happen? Who will score the most goals? Stay here to find out!

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