League 1 promotion contenders Sheffield Wednesday knocked out Premier League side Newcastle United as the Owls progressed into Round 4 of this years FA Cup Campaign. Two second half goals from Josh Windass were enough to see the home side secure their place in the hat for the next round. Bruno Guimaraes pulled one back for the visitors side but it wasn’t enough as Cameron Dawson pulled off a string of crucial saves to keep his side in the tie.
Sheffield Wednesday made two changes to the lineup who comprehensively beaten Cambridge last time out. Mallik Wilks and Callum Patterson miss out whilst Dominic Iorfa and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru take their place.
Eddie Howe who took charge of his 50th Newcastle match made eight changes to the side that drew against Arsenal, only Sven Botman, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff keeping their place in the starting eleven. Alexander Isak was named in the starting eleven for his first appearance since the 17th September. Martin Dubravka, Matt Ritchie, Jamaal Lascelles and Elliot Anderson were also named in the starting lineup.
Once more, the Magpies were backed by a packed away end as the Geordie faithful sold out their entire 4,500 ticket allocation, something which doesn’t go unnoticed by the players and the management as after each match the entire travelling match-day squad including backroom staff go over to the away end and applaud the thousands who spend their hard earned money on following their beloved side.
The game got underway and both sides had chances in the opening ten minutes to get the first goal. The first chance fell to the hosts with just six minutes on the clock. A sloppy throw in from Lewis gave Palmer a chance to run and unleash an effort at goal but it sailed wide past Dubravka and his goal. The ball went down the other end and Dawson had to pull off a smart save to stop Isak’s header from close range. Windass who is in fine form at the moment had a golden opportunity to put the hosts in-front following a sloppy back-pass from the youngster Anderson but he couldn’t stop his effort bouncing wide of the post. Isak had another opportunity to give his side the lead just after the 20 minute mark when he called Dawson into making a save from inside the box. Dawson definitely the busier keeper so far. Veteran winger Ritchie unleashed an effort just outside the box in the 28th minute but it looped just over the bar onto the roof of the net. What a fine scuffed goal it would have been if it had went in. Murphy had the last chance of half and possibly the best chance of the game so far, he was played in but scuffed his attempted loop over Dawson and it was collected by the home side. Half Time 0-0.
Botman unleaded an effort from just outside the box five minutes after the restart but his strike drifted past the post by the narrowest of margins. Sheffield took the lead moments later when Byers cleverly turned and plays Windass in from behind who slots past Dubravka. Replays show Windass was clearly offside but as there is no VAR, the goal stood. Anderson forced Dawson into another smart save from down low following a corner just a couple of moments later as the visitors pressed for an equaliser. Windass doubled his tally for the game and his sides lead in the 65th minute, the ball deflects of Joelinton before falling to Smith who plays in Windass and he expertly smashes it past the stranded Dubravka. Brazilian midfielder Guimaraes pulled one back for the Magpies just three minutes later, Wood heads on Trippier’s corner to Guimaraes who pokes it past Dawson. Replays show Guimaraes was offside but that’s called KARMA! Windass nearly bagged his second hat-trick in as many games where his free kick from outside the box smashed off the crossbar before being knocked safe. Wood had a golden opportunity to level things up for the hosts, Trippier laid it off to Joelinton who ran forward and played through Wood who just had the keeper to beat but he couldn’t keep his effort under control. Ritchie blazed over an effort in the 88th minute for the Magpies as they pressed for a second goal. Newcastle pressed for an equaliser but it wasn’t to be. Full Time arrived and Newcastle are eliminated from the FA Cup in the 3rd Round for the third successive year.
Sutty’s Full Time Thoughts: Newcastle were made to pay for their missed chances this evening. They simply weren’t good enough as their fringe players failed to step up to the plate. Jacob Murphy, Elliott Anderson, Jamal Lewis and Matt Ritchie all had poor games. Alexander Isak had a couple of chances in the first half before he was withdrawn at half time. Sheffield keeper Cameron Dawson had a cracking game between the sticks thought it has to be said. There’s lessons to be learned from this evenings poor display. Saying that, I’m glad it’s just the third round of the FA Cup and not the EFL Cup Quarter Final where I expect Eddie Howe to name a full strength side against the Foxes. Disappointing but onto the next one. HWTL.
What’s Next? Sheffield travel to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 14th January for a 3pm KO in the next round of League One fixtures. Newcastle host Premier League rivals Leicester City in the Quarter Final of the EFL Cup on Tuesday 10th January. KO for that fixture is at 8pm and “Its Liveeee” on Sky Sports Football.
Sheffield Wednesday Line Up: C Dawson, L Palmer (89, J Hunt), D Iorfa, M McGuinness, R James, M Johnson, F Dele-Bashiru (45, D Adeniran), G Byers (90+5, T Bakinson), W Vaulks, J Windass (90+5, M Wilks), M Smith (87, C Paterson).
Sheffield Wednesday Bench: D Stockdale, J Hunt, A Famewo, J Brown, T Bakinson, D Adeniran, A Mighten, C Paterson, M Wilks.
Newcastle United Line Up: M Dubravka, J Manquillo, J Lascelles ©, S Botman, J Lewis (68, K Trippier), S Longstaff (59, B Guimaraes), E Anderson (59, J Willock), Joelinton, M Ritchie, A Isak (45, C Wood), J Murphy (59, M Almiron).
Newcastle United Bench: K Darlow, K Trippier, P Dummett, D Burn, B Guimaraes, J Willock, M Almiron, R Fraser, C Wood.
Match Officials: Michael Salisbury (Referee), Gary Beswick & Akil Howson (Assistant’s), Ollie Yates (Fourth Official)
@jsuttonwrites
07.01.2023
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