Newcastle United have been knocked out of the FA Cup in a shock defeat to League One aspect Sheffield Wednesday this night at Hillsborough, and Eddie Howe will certainly be regretting his choice to make so many modifications for the conflict.
The Magpies supervisor made eight modifications to the beginning XI which drew with Arsenal in an effort to provide fringe gamers the chance to show their value and permit first-teamers a relaxation forward of the Carabao Cup quarter-final conflict towards Leicester City on Tuesday.
Despite having 75% possession of the ball, extra photographs on aim (22 v 9), extra huge possibilities created (4 v 3), extra photographs contained in the field (15 v 6) and extra dribbles accomplished (63% v 13%) than the house aspect, Newcastle had been unable to transform their overwhelming quantity of possibilities, which finally price them their place within the competitors.
The first half was comparatively uneventful, with Newcastle dominating the ball, and though each groups had been creating possibilities comfortably to threaten their opponents, it remained scoreless on the interval.
In the second half, the drama unfolded as Wednesday’s striker Josh Windass lastly broke the stalemate to provide his group the lead within the 52nd minute, and the chaos that he triggered Newcastle didn’t finish there as he doubled the lead with one other aim simply 13 minutes later.
Bruno Guimaraes responded with a aim for Newcastle within the 69th minute however probability after probability was squandered and, after a chronic interval of harm time, Howe’s aspect fell to only their second defeat of the season.
One participant who was introduced onto the pitch to strengthen the attacking risk was striker Chris Wood, changing a freshly-returned Alexander Isak in entrance of aim, and it’s protected to say that it was a whole disaster from the New Zealand striker.
Over his 45-minute efficiency, the 31-year-old flop – whose show was dubbed “awful” by Adam Wesley – had 23 touches, accomplished simply 14 passes, misplaced 100% of his duels and missed a one-on-one alternative with the goalkeeper to equalise late into the second half, a miss which should end result within the striker by no means sporting the black and white shirt once more.
Should Newcastle promote Chris Wood this month?
Yes
No
Wood has been linked with a possible transfer away from St James’ Park after falling considerably out of favour attributable to his goal-shy strategy (simply three this season), Callum Wilson’s form and Isak’s arrival, with Leeds United one of many golf equipment reportedly maintaining a tally of the striker.
An alternative to dump Wood shouldn’t be ignored by Howe and PIF if a membership ought to make a concrete provide over the January switch window, as it’s clear from tonight’s disasterclass that the drop-off in high quality is large when changing his positional friends within the centre-forward function.
