Eddie Howe's pre-match assessment of AFC Wimbledon as 'well organised' proved to be an understatement as Johnnie Jackson's League Two side effectively shut out Newcastle United at St James' Park. The visitors not only managed to keep the Magpies scoreless in open play but also frequently silenced the home crowd. It was Fabian Schär's coolly taken penalty that secured Newcastle's passage to the fourth round, setting up a home tie against Chelsea. Throughout the match, Wimbledon captain Joe Lewis was a rock at the heart of the defense, embodying the team's resolute spirit. His teammates were equally committed, making it a challenging night for Howe's side.
Pep Guardiola had recently claimed that Newcastle are 'impossible' to contain for a full 90 minutes, but Wimbledon gave it their best shot. The original fixture was postponed due to severe weather conditions, leading to a venue change nearly 300 miles north. Jackson's team arrived in high spirits, buoyed by a strong start to their League Two campaign and the memory of eliminating Premier League side Ipswich in the previous round. Despite making eight changes to the lineup that faced Manchester City last Saturday, Howe fielded a strong side, including talents like Joelinton, Joe Willock, and Harvey Barnes.
Wimbledon, however, were not intimidated and largely held their own. The first half saw Newcastle struggle to create clear-cut chances, with an offside Miguel Almirón having a goal rightly disallowed. The visitors' back three often morphed into a defensive quintet, effectively neutralizing Newcastle's attacks. Will Osula, making his debut after joining from Sheffield United, found it difficult to receive service due to Wimbledon's intelligent defensive tactics.
While Wimbledon were too busy defending to mount much of an attack, the 60-place gap in the league table seemed less significant at times. Moments like Schär's near-perfect through ball to Almirón and Barnes's swerving shot that narrowly missed the target served as reminders of Newcastle's potential. Wimbledon could have taken the lead when Joe Pigott's pass found Omar Bugiel, only for Martin Dubravka to make a brave save, leaving the goalkeeper limping. Dubravka soon celebrated after Schär was fouled in the box, leading to a penalty that Schär calmly converted.
Howe's visibly tense demeanor hinted at dissatisfaction with his team's performance, prompting a half-time substitution with Guimarães replacing Barnes. Odysseas Vlachodimos made his Newcastle debut but had little to do with his teammates enjoying over 80% possession. Wimbledon's collective defiance was epitomized by Riley Harbottle, who bravely blocked a Willock volley with his face. Owen Goodman also made a courageous late save to deny Osula a debut goal.
Newcastle will need to significantly raise their game if they are to overcome Chelsea later this month.
