Josh Windass’ brace saw Sheffield Wednesday stun Newcastle United 2-1 at Hillsborough in Third Round of 2022-23 FA Cup.
Windass fired Wednesday in front from an offside position in the 52nd minute via substitute, Dennis Adeniran’s pass.
Newcastle boyhood supporter, Michael Smith then played Windass through in the 65th minute to double the Owls’ lead.
Bruno Guimaraes pulled a goal back for Newcastle as he poked in from a 69th minute corner, yet the Premier League team suffered another shock exit to a League One team for a second consecutive season – having lost to Cambridge at this stage last season.
Sheffield Wednesday meanwhile are now through to the Fourth Round for the fifth time in six seasons, as their unbeaten run in all competitions extended to 18 matches.
Prior to kick-off, Wednesday opted to make two changes from their League One mauling of Cambridge United, whilst Newcastle made eight changes from a goalless midweek draw at Arsenal as Martin Dubravka started in goal following his early return from a season-long loan at Manchester United.
A fast-paced start to the match saw the first chance fall Newcastle’s way after Alexander Isak drew a fourth minute foul from Mark McGuiness, from which Elliot Anderson nodded Matt Ritchie’s free-kick over the bar.
Sheffield Wednesday though weren’t deterred by that early threat as Liam Palmer two minutes later intercepted Jamal Lewis’ throw-in towards Jacob Murphy, yet the defender was only able to fire wide of the left corner.
Newcastle swiftly responded less than a minute later as Javier Manquillo collected an overlapped pass from Ritchie, with his cross headed onto goal by Isak only for Cameron Dawson to crucially block and Dominic Iofra cleared the ball.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies though were almost punished for their open defending in the 14th minute as Josh Windass intercepted Anderson’s backpass to Martin Dubravka, yet he rifled wide of the right corner.
Isak and Ritchie then both saw shots denied as Newcastle soon began to get on top of the Owls, who displayed resilient pressing and defensive organisation to frustrate their visitors throughout the remainder of the first half.
Will Vaulks meanwhile conceded a handball in the 39th minute from Ritchie’s rebound header after Dominic Iofra had initially fouled Isak, who then curled the free-kick low but into the Owls’ wall which swiftly cleared the ball upfield.
Neither team were able to break the deadlock before half-time despite Murphy’s attempt to score a 44th minute chipped opening goal over Dawson from a direct long ball, only for his shot to bounce wide across goal.
Both teams opted for half-time tweaks as Wednesday substituted Tom Dele-Bashiru for Adeniran whilst Newcastle subbed Isak for Chris Wood.
Newcastle’s gamble initially looked the bravest as an one-two move between Anderson and Murphy found Wood but the New Zealander’s shot in the 50th minute blocked by McGuinness, who cleared the resulting corner.
Darren Moore’s Owls however took the lead two minutes later as George Byers stunned two Newcastle players with a sharp running turn, which led him to find Adeniran who played Windass through to calmly slip in despite being offside.
Up the other end, Sven Botman and Anderson were superbly denied by Dawson as Newcastle searched for an equaliser, before Windass saw a 57th minute strike denied by Dubravka before Dawson flicked Murphy’s shot over at the Owls’ end and Botman nodded wide from the corner.
Howe soon retorted to a triple substitution which nearly paid dividends in the 65th minute as Miguel Almiron teed up Joelinton, from which the Brazilian curled over the bar.
Wednesday soon punished that wasted chance a minute later as Michael Smith pounced upon a loose header and played Windass through, which the 28 year-old duly smashed in for his 11th goal of the season and Wednesday’s second goal of the match.
Newcastle however pulled a goal back in the 69th minute as Joelinton won a corner, from which Wood flicked on for Guimaraes to poke in from close-range to give the Magpies hope.
Joelinton, Joe Willock and Ritchie all saw chances denied as Newcastle ultimately failed to find an equaliser to force a replay at St James’ Park, as Chris Wood unmarked blasted their best chance over the bar from Joelinton’s pass in the 82nd minute.
Wednesday eventually clung on despite waves of Newcastle attacks to deny the third-placed Premier League team, in one of this round’s biggest giant killings yet and clinch only their second-ever FA Cup win against the Magpies.
What’s Next?
Sheffield Wednesday now visit Wycombe Wanderers in League One at 3pm GMT on Saturday 14 January, as the Owls continue their promotion challenge.
Newcastle meanwhile host Leicester at 8pm GMT on Tuesday 10 January in Quarter-Finals of 2022-23 Carabao Cup, live on Sky Sports.
Teams
Sheffield Wednesday: Cameron Dawson, Liam Palmer (Hunt 88′), Dominic Iofra, Mark McGuinness, Reece James, Marvin Johnson, Tom Dele-Bashiru (Adeniran 45′), George Byers (Bakinson 90+6′), Will Vaulks, Michael Smith (Paterson 88′), Josh Windass (Wilks 90+6′)
Substitutes: Jaden Brown, Mallik Wilks, Dennis Adeniran, Callum Paterson, Akin Famewo, Tyreeq Bakinson, David Stockdale, Jack Hunt, Alex Mighten
Newcastle United: Martin Dubravka, Javier Manquilo, Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Jamal Lewis (Trippier 69′), Sean Longstaff (Guimaraes 60′), Elliot Anderson (Willock 60′), Joelinton, Matt Ritchie, Jacob Murphy (Almiron 60′), Alexander Isak (Wood 45′)
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Kieran Trippier, Paul Dummett, Chris Wood, Ryan Fraser, Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes
Referee: Michael Salisbury