Newcastle United suffered FA Cup disappointment at the hands of League One side Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
The result will be a painful one for United and Eddie Howe's backroom team but they have just a couple of days to lift themselves for their League Cup quarter-final against Leicester City with one road to Wembley still open. However, they had no answer to the 28-year-old former Wigan and Rangers star Josh Windass who helped himself to a second half brace.
At 2-0 up it looked like the game was up for Newcastle but sub Bruno Guimaraes' goal from the bench suggested a fightback was on the cards. However, a missed opportunity from Chris Wood - who scooped over - proved to be costly and Sheff Wed bagged a place in the last 32.
READ MORE: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Newcastle United highlights and reaction
Howe tweaked his team and rested some of his first-team stars but the main headline before kick off came from the inclusion of Isak. Martin Dubravka was also back from his loan stint at Man United and started between the posts while Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Sven Botman retained their places.
The first significant piece of action came after five minutes as Isak won a free-kick on the left-hand side before Matt Ritchie swung the ball in. But the home side cleared their lines after Elliot Anderson's header and while there were calls for a handball in the box with the young Geordie leading the protests ref Michael Sailsbury dismissed appeals.
Sheff Wed's first attack came when a throw-in from Jamal Lewis was intercepted but Liam Palmer struck it wide although Dubravka pretty much had it covered. Two minutes later Javier Manquillo's cross found Isak but the ball was kept out at point-blank range by Sheff Wed keeper Cameron Dawson.
Manquillo beat his man then the goalkeeper after a burst down the right on 12 minutes but his cross was poor an easily headed clear by Mark McGuinness. Moments later, Josh Windass was presented with a chance in the box after intercepting Anderson's back-pass but his effort was prodded wide.
A clear chance for Newcastle came the way of Isak again on 25 minutes but his low effort was beaten away by Dawson. A Manquillo cross on the half hour mark found Ritchie but he scooped it over the top.
Newcastle were handed a chance from a free-kick with five second half minutes remaining. But this time Isak's effort struck the wall before being cleared.
The two teams went in level at the break despite Newcastle having 70% possession and having some good openings. United replaced £63million man Isak at half-time and introduced Chris Wood for the second period.
A long range effort from Sven Botman flashed wide five minutes into the second half. But Sheff Wed then stunned their Premier League guests with Dennis Adeniran's sweeping pass converted by Windass from close range with 52 minutes gone..
With no VAR in operation in the FA Cup the goal stood and United had work to do. Newcastle responded with a chance from Anderson but the foot of Dawson diverted it away from danger. Seconds later Murphy dropped his shoulder and turned his man but his chip was gathered by the 6ft 4in keeper.
It was the cue for Howe to make changes with an hour played with Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Miguel Almiron sent on for Anderson, Longstaff and Murphy. But the home side doubled their lead on 65 minutes.
After an unconvincing header from Lascelles, then Joelinton's poor pass let in Michael Smith who picked out Windass again. The former Rangers player outpaced Lascelles and Botman before calmly finishing to make it 2-0.
Howe's last throw of the dice came when he introduced Kieran Trippier for the last quarter of the game. His arrival paid off within seconds as he whipped in a corner from the left with Wood flicking on and Bruno applying a close range finish after Dawson managed to get a hand on the initial contact.
With 15 minutes left, Sheff Wed won a free-kick from 30 yards out. Windass unleashed a powerful effort that clipped the bar before Dubravka dealt with an awkward rebound. Newcastle piled on the pressure in the last 15 minutes with Willock getting free in the box before his shot was blocked.
With eight minutes to go Trippier pumped the ball forward for Joelinton who broke forward and slipped it to Wood. However, the £25million striker scooped his shot high over the bar and into the Spion Kop at Hillsborough. With 86 minutes played Willock helped the ball on for Ritchie but he sent his shot high over the top.
The Magpies won a 90th minute corner at the start of six minutes of added time but it came to nothing as Wednesday hung on. A last gasp free-kick was swung in by Trippier but again the Owls cleared their lines.
For the second season, United's interest in the FA Cup ended at the round three stage only this time there is more than a relegation battle to play for.
Attendance: 25,884
Referee: Michael Sailsbury (Lancashire)
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