Not too long ago a meeting between Sheffield Wednesday and NewcastleNewcastle was a Championship fixture, but fast forward six seasons and two divisions separate the sides. Despite Newcastle flying high and firmly in the mix for a Champions League spot in the top-flight, it was League One promotion-chasers Wednesday who shaded the opening stages and after two lapses in the Newcastle defence, Josh Windass and Liam Palmer came close to finding an opener.
Newcastle’s summer signing Alexander Isak proved the Magpies still offered some threat, but his stinging drive was beaten away by Cameron Dawson in the Wednesday goal to ensure there was nothing to separate the sides at HT. Sven Botman encapsulated Newcastle’s intentions early in the second half by flashing an effort wide of the post as the visitors looked to be gathering a head of steam. But this is the FA Cup, and anything can happen. That line again rang true when Wednesday stole a march on the game as Windass prodded home Dennis Adeniran’s cross to lift the roof off Hillsborough.
That goal seemed to breathe new life into the game and Newcastle came close to hitting straight back when the ball fell kindly to Elliot Anderson in the area, but a heroic Dawson stop preserved the Owls’ lead. That save looked to be even bigger just ten minutes later when Michael Smith played Windass through on goal and he made no mistake in firing home his second of the afternoon.
Things were never likely to be plain sailing for Wednesday against a star-studded Newcastle line-up though, as it transpired when substitute Bruno Guimarães tapped home from close range to halve the deficit. In what was a real see-saw affair, Windass rattled the crossbar in search of his hat-trick, before Chris Wood missed a golden opportunity as pressure became incessant on the Owls goal.
Incredibly though, the League One outfit stood firm to secure only their second win from their last 19 FA Cup games against top-flight opponents. In comparison, it was a rather sobering evening for Newcastle, who amidst their push for European football were humbled by the Owls.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday)
