Never underestimate the magic of the FA Cup. Football’s oldest and grandest domestic football competition always gets supporters from around the UK excited because of its rich history and the hope it brings to everyone who dreams of seeing their team lift the famous trophy inside Wembley Stadium.
It is a competition like no other, filled with shocks and upsets that you will rarely find anywhere else. As the third round of the competition’s 151st year got underway this weekend, we were treated to a huge giant killing as League One Sheffield Wednesday defeated Premier League and richest club in the world Newcastle United at Hillsborough.
Darren Moore’s Owls continued their fine run of form as their triumph over the Magpies extended their winning run to four matches and inflicted upon Eddie Howe’s growing side only their second defeat of the season. Howe opted to make eight changes from the side that earned a goalless draw against Arsenal in the week and he had the audacity to make complaints about his squad depth despite boasting £40 million signing Bruno Guimaraes with their other £40 million acquisition Joelinton starting the match.
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Since their Saudi Arabian takeover over a year ago it has always been a case of when, not if, for Newcastle to become a European superpower. And while they have experienced a tremendous rise under Howe’s guidance in this past year in which they are already competing for a place in the top four.
And while this revolution is already making great progress, it is still in its infancy. As Newcastle found out on Saturday, they are not yet at the stage where they can dominate teams with several changes made to the lineup and that they are still reliant on the core group who have been thriving in the Premier League.
Newcastle fans will use the changes as their excuse in their premature cup exit but credit has to go to Sheffield Wednesday for the way they competed against them, ultimately outplaying them too. This epitomised the magic of the FA Cup because passion and determination overcame millions worth of talent and there would have been many people expecting victory to be routine for Newcastle.
Josh Windass’ second-half brace is what secured the victory for the Owls while substitute Guimaraes could only give his side a consolation goal. They made the visitors pay for their missed chances and defended resolutely to hold out for the well-earned victory. Moore described the win as one of the proudest moments of his managerial career and he’s not wrong.
Hillsborough was electric thanks to the collective performance of Moore’s men and a stunning victory against the world’s richest football club will only do wonders for their confidence in the league as they look to return to the Championship.
Wednesday are second in the league with a game in hand on top-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle. Having just outclassed Premier League opposition, the players will fear no one that they face in the third tier for the remainder of the campaign.
The Owls await to find out who is next for them to face in the fourth round while Newcastle’s sole focus is now qualifying for the Champions League. This result, combined with the atmosphere, the gap in league positions and each club's financial power once again proves why the magic of this glorious competition will never fade. It is etched into the very fabric of this nation and will always deliver us astonishing moments like this.
