The Tim Spiers debrief – Wolves 3 Shrewsbury 2

It wasn't pretty, but goals from Matt Doherty (2) and Ivan Cavaleiro saw them see off their League One opponents 3-2.

Fringe benefits?

"I think some players did well, but I expect more from them also...I expect a lot more from them."

Nuno Espirito Santo, while pleased with progress to the fifth round, wasn't exactly delighted with what he saw from his players.

Adama Traore, Ivan Cavaleiro, Helder Costa, Romain Saiss, Morgan Gibbs-White and John Ruddy were give a chance to impress and collectively they didn't do much to suggest they should be in Nuno's first choice XI, which looks set in stone for the time being.

Traore was the pick of the bunch, taking players on for fun at times. His end product was lacking more often than not, but in fairness he had questionable support from those around him.

Cavaleiro showed his class and his considerably finishing ability with a wonderfully-taken goal, which was his main contribution (albeit a winning goal).

The midfield pairing of Saiss and Gibbs-White wasn't hugely effective and Costa continued his recent form with a below-par display.

Aside from a 15-minute spell in the first half when Wolves produced a series of promising passing moves, it was a difficult watch.

Ruddy hell

And then there was Ruddy's hugely unfortunate and careless error which led to Shrewsbury's second goal.

It was a bona fide clanger – the ball looked to be going wide and you'd imagine Ruddy couldn't do that again if he tried.

He's not the first back-up keeper to be put in for a rare game and make an error, and he won't be the last.

Keepers, as of course with outfield players, need regular games to get into a rhythm and produce their best form – playing now and again in the cup doesn't allow for that. It'd be the same for a centre half playing every few weeks.

It should be noted that Ruddy was the hero in the third round when his superb save denied Xherdan Shaqiri, but calls are growing for Rui Patricio to be restored against Bristol City.

No one understands the plight of the reserve keeper better than Nuno, who at the back end of his career was Porto's cup keeper but rarely featured in the league.

It's this correspondent's hunch that Nuno will back 'big John', as he affectionately call him, and stick with him in the cup. It's only one glaring error, after all. Who'd be a keeper, eh?

Nuno's team selection at Ashton Gate will be fascinating, not just in terms of the goalkeeper but the whole XI. With no game for six days either side of the tie (Newcastle at home before, Bournemouth away after) he can surely afford to go full strength.

Whether he will or not is another matter, but last night's performance has given him an excuse to do so.

One thing's for sure, Wolves will need to play a hell of a lot better to beat a Bristol City team who've just won seven games on the spin and haven't lost since November.

What the Doc ordered

One player surely guaranteed to feature at Ashton Gate is Matt Doherty. Where would Wolves be without him in this competition?

The Irishman was in the right place at the right time to score twice in the first half – taking his tally to three for the tie and six in all competitions this season – and then set up the winner to book when he played to Cavaleiro.

It's the latest highlight of a stellar season for Doherty whose year-on-year improvement in the past few seasons offers a model template for any footballer looking to better himself and reach the top.

Bottom line

The bottom line, of course, is that Wolves are in the next round.

It's February, the race for seventh is getting towards the business end and the FA Cup is down to its last 16 teams. Performances become less important, results the opposite.

With Manchester United facing Chelsea in the fifth round, we know only two of the 'big six' can make it through to the quarter finals.

Watford and Crystal Palace, like Wolves, face testing away trips to QPR and Doncaster respectively. It's the most open FA Cup for years – and Wolves have as good a chance as most to, yes, win the whole damn thing for the first since in 59 years.

Last night's deeply impressive Molineux attendance, aided by cheap tickets, showed how cup fever has gripped the fans. Finishing seventh would be an amazing achievement, surpassing expectations for the season and giving Wolves a wonderful foundation on which to reach the giddy heights they aspire to in the coming years.

But in years to come, supporters won't tell their grandchildren tales of 'when we finished seventh'. But, were it to happen, they'd talk misty-eyed for decades of the year Wolves won the FA Cup. The game is all about glory – Wolves have their best opportunity for years to do something special in the greatest club cup competition of all.

It's a truly tantalising prospect.

Final word

Star man: Matt Doherty

The boss: Wanted more from his fringe players

Fans: Fantastic attendance shows they want a cup run

Magic moment: Sublime skill from Cavaleiro for a brilliantly-taken winner

In a word: Relief

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