Matheus Cunha showcased his scoring prowess once again as Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a 2-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on Sunday, 9th February 2025. The match, held at Ewood Park in front of 15,141 spectators, saw Wolves advance to the competition's fifth round. Joao Gomes opened the scoring, with Cunha quickly extending the lead just a minute later. Meanwhile, Blackburn faced uncertainty surrounding their manager John Eustace's future amidst rumors of interest from Derby County.
Wolves entered the match with five changes from their recent win over Aston Villa, while Blackburn underwent a more significant transformation with eight new faces following their defeat to QPR. Despite these changes, it was Wolves who adapted quickly, controlling the game in the early stages. Joao Gomes capitalized on this dominance by netting the first goal of the match. Moments later, Matheus Cunha doubled the advantage, further cementing his reputation as a key asset for Wolves this season.
Cunha's performance was a testament to his recent decision to commit to Wolves until 2029, having signed a new contract in January. His 12th goal of the season highlighted why he attracted interest from clubs like Arsenal and Aston Villa during the transfer window. However, his commitment to Wolves remains firm for now.
Blackburn's efforts to respond were met with frustration when Dom Hyam's header was ruled offside in the first half, denying them a potential lifeline. Their attempts to rally were further thwarted by Wolves' solid defense and strategic gameplay. Despite a late surge and a commendable save by Blackburn goalkeeper Balazs Toth from another Cunha attempt, Wolves maintained their lead to secure victory.
The spotlight on Cunha's future at Wolves intensified after Clinton Morrison, a Sky Sports pundit, expressed skepticism about his long-term stay at the club:
"If you ask me if he'd be there next season, I'd say no chance. That is no disrespect to Wolves but he can go and play anywhere. He will want to play in the Champions League and to win trophies. He won't be there come next season, that's for sure." – Clinton Morrison
While Morrison praised Wolves for securing Cunha's new contract, he emphasized that Cunha's ambitions could lead him to explore opportunities beyond Molineux:
"You can talk about all the signings they made but him signing a new contract was the best one." – Clinton Morrison
On the other hand, Blackburn's manager John Eustace finds himself at the center of speculation after reports of Derby County's interest in him surfaced during the match. Eustace acknowledged the situation post-match:
"If that's happened during the game (an official approach) I can't say much about that. I'll have to chat with the owners and see what's happened." – John Eustace
Eustace's decision to make significant changes to his starting lineup reflected both strategic considerations and possibly the ongoing uncertainty about his managerial future.
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