Sheffield Wednesday vs Newcastle United

Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United head to Hillsborough to take on third-tier Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup third round.

Sheffield Wednesday came back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to oust fourth-tier Mansfield 2-1 in the previous FA Cup round, a victory that forms part of a mightily impressive nine-match unbeaten streak in all competitions (W6, D3). After a run of three straight League One draws, the ‘Owls’ racked up three consecutive victories, including an overwhelming 5-0 battering of Cambridge United in the lead-up to this fixture. That’s a massive confidence boost for Wednesday as they must beat the odds to get past Newcastle after picking up just one triumph in their last 18 FA Cup encounters against top-flight sides (D2, L15), winning away to Brighton in 2019/20. Topically, they’ve suffered elimination in five of their six FA Cup ties against the ‘Magpies.’

In the meantime, after winning six successive Premier League games, Newcastle United have played out identical 0-0 draws against Leeds United and Arsenal in their last two league outings. Seeking their first win in 2023, Eddie Howe’s men have much to look forward to in the new calendar year following an eye-catching transformation from relegation strugglers into top-four candidates in 2022. Unbeaten in their last 15 matches across all competitions with only five goals conceded in that run, the ‘Magpies’ are enjoying their longest undefeated streak since 1995! But that’s not a reason for Howe’s side to get complacent, especially considering they’ve managed just two wins in their last 16 FA Cup third-round ties without needing a replay.