Wednesday made it an FA Cup night to remember with a 2-1 third round victory over high-flying Newcastle at a bouncing Hillsborough this evening.
After taking a two-goal lead, we had to survive a late onslaught and seven-plus minutes of added time as Premier League Newcastle pressed for an equaliser but we showed great fighting spirit and the hard-earned win takes us into tomorrow afternoon’s fourth round draw.
Wednesday were close to taking the lead after just five minutes when Liam Palmer seized on the ball from a Newcastle throw-in but dragged his shot wide of the far post while the visitors went even closer soon afterwards, Cameron Dawson producing the first of several impressive saves when he kept out an Alexander Isak header from inside the six-yard box.
With 13 minutes gone, we almost took advantage of more sloppy Newcastle defending, Josh Windass moving onto a poor backpass by Elliot Anderson but he seemed to get caught in two minds as he approached keeper Martin Dubravka and his heavy touch took the chance wide.
Back at the other end, Dawson produced another excellent stop from Isak, this time with his legs to block an angled drive.
We were close to taking the lead on 36 minutes, Will Vaulks teasing low cross being deflected for a corner by defender Sven Botman and an eventful first 45 minutes finished with former Owls loanee Jacob Murphy lobbing over Dawson but seeing the effort going off target.
After a half of chances and near misses, the deadlock was broken just five minutes into the second period and it was Wednesday who struck following an excellent move.
George Byers produced a super turn between two Newcastle players in midfield before feeding the overlapping Palmer. He found sub Dennis Adeniran and when the latter sent in a low cross the offside-looking Windass was there to turn the ball home from close range.
Dawson twice came to the rescue again before the hour-mark, using his legs to save from Anderson and then pushing a Murphy long-ranger over the bar.
In between those two efforts, Windass brought a flying save out of Dubravka but there was no denying the Wednesday man on 64 minutes, Michael Smith sending him clear with a measured pass and Windass smashing the ball past the keeper from the edge of the box.
Hillsborough was rocking at this stage but Newcastle, who had brought on three established first-teamers from the bench on the hour, were back in the tie four minutes later when one of the subs, Bruno Guimaraes, turned the ball home inside the six-yard box – again from a possible offside position – after Dawson had parried Chris Wood’s header following a dangerous Kieran Trippier corner.
Undeterred, Wednesday continued to trouble the visitors and Windass was close to a second hat-trick in successive games, his 25-yard free kick crashing against the crossbar and Smith going close with a header from the rebound.
Smith then nodded just over from a cracking Marvin Johnson before Newcastle missed a gilt-edged chance to draw level, Wood sending the ball high into the Kop after a sweeping Newcastle move left him in time and space 12 yards out.
The Premier League side then camped themselves in the Wednesday half in the closing minutes as they pressed for that second goal but it was not be on a memorable night at S6.
Dawson, Palmer (Hunt 88), Iorfa, McGuinness, James, Vaulks, Byers (Bakinson 90), Dele-Bashiru (Adeniran 46), Johnson, Windass (Wilks 90), Smith (Paterson 88). Unused subs: Stockdale, Brown, Famewo, Mighten. Att: 25,884.