Bristol Rovers

Yeah, wasn’t great.

But The Peripherals found a way to overcome a plucky Bristol Rovers and that’s all that matters. We’re in the hat baby.

As others have already stated, Will Norris was comfortably Man of the Match underlining the hard miles Wolves were forced to endure.

We should focus on individuals in games like this because you can’t just staple eleven players together and call it a team. Cohesion will always be elusive.

Norris was outstanding and definitely has a whiff of de Gae with his tall angular frame and low hanging shirt. Had it not been for his acrobatics this would have gone the distance or worse.

It’s nice to think that should John Ruddy be felled at some point we’ve got an exciting prospect ready and willing. On this evidence mind, he won’t fancy being second pick for too long.

Conor Coady is either making that position at the heart of the back three look easy or his team mates are doing a stellar job of protecting him.

It’s probably a bit of both, but no doubting the affable Scouser has never been so comfortable in a gold shirt. He’s running the show in cruise control.

The importance of Enobakhare’s goal shouldn’t be underestimated either with that lingering sense that it could all just click for the youngster at any moment.

He was at his scintillating and infuriating best at times last night but thwacking that ball into the roof of the net might just given him that extra five per cent to become a more potent weapon.

Great to see Douglas back in action too. He got forward to supply the pass for Bright’s winner and will be pushing hard to regain the shirt from Vinagre.

Hause didn’t get on, but the fact he was named among the substitutes suggests he’s not far off, while Bennett didn’t even make the squad.

It was interesting that Nuno retained his first choice back three while the rest of the team was rotated out. I’m sure there’s method there.

But onwards and upwards and all that.

Fingers crossed for Spurs away.

I’m desperate for Wembley, so a home tie against the lowest ranked side left in the competition felt rather dreamy.

That is until someone pointed out that drawing Spurs away would have made the path considerably easier.

Oh well, if we can overcome Bristol Rovers we’re just three matches away from earning that trip to the home of football the old fashioned way.

But I’m not getting ahead of myself. The convincing win over Southampton hasn’t papered over the cracks of our less than convincing win over Yeovil.

Cautious optimism is the order of the day.

Bristol Rovers

Midtable in League One is as high as I can remember Rovers being for some time and they appear to have consolidated their status in the third tier after promotion a few years back.

They finished just 7 points outside the play-offs last season so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they could be playing Championship football in the not too distant future.

Manager Darrell Clarke thinks the group of players should be pushing for promotion so there’s a certain level of expectation.

Striker Billy Bodin has scored for fun this season and was reportedly the subject of Championship interest in the final days of the transfer window. He’s one to look out for.

Fulham were dispatched 1-0 in the previous round, so Rovers already have form for upsetting the odds.

Wolves

A smaller squad and a handful of injuries could mean less changes to the starting XI, but then again I’d expect most of the second string to get some game time, which might mean a team something like:

The above is a touch disjointed so probably wide of the mark but you’d expect most of them to get on the pitch – either from the start or off the bench.

Helder Costa’s road to recovery has been a bit cloak and dagger of late, but he’s been training for a while so an appearance could be imminent. Hause is another that could make a long awaited return.

Dead certs to play must be Norris, Deslandes, Bennett, Price, Ronan and Enobakhare. Zyro, N’Diaye and Marshall could also do with some minutes.

Donovan Wilson will be keen to make an appearance against his former club and after coming off the bench to score against Southampton, you’d imagine he’ll feature at some stage.

Predictions

It’s a banana skin waiting to happen but we should have enough quality to get through, so hopefully we do it with a bit to spare for a change.

I’ll go for the trusty old 3-1.

Up The Wolves!

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