After third-tier Sheffield Wednesday shocked the high-flying Newcastle United in the FA Cup, Eddie Howe called the latest defeat "a great disappointment."

After significant improvements at St. James' Park, head coach Howe had guided Newcastle into the Champions League spots, but Hillsborough put the Magpies off their game.

Josh Windass scored twice to give Wednesday a two-goal lead. Despite Bruno Guimaraes of Brazil bringing the score back to one, the Owls held on to win 2-1.

As a result, Wednesday becomes the first side to defeat Newcastle since Liverpool did so on August 31. This marks Newcastle's third consecutive FA Cup failure.

Newcastle lost to Arsenal in this round of the cup in 2021 before suffering a huge killing when they tripped up at home against Cambridge United the previous year.

Howe mentioned in passing that he intended to make up for the Cambridge loss and questioned his players' finishing, saying they had 22 shots to Wednesday's nine but failed to convert any of them.

Howe told NUFC TV: "It was a tough night for us, a really difficult game. We knew it was going to be. We created enough chances to win. I thought we had some really presentable moments. We didn't take them.

"Once they got their noses in front, it's very difficult to come back. We tried our best to do that and right to the end we were pushing, but it wasn't to be."

It's a huge result for @swfc! 🦉They've knocked out @NUFC 😱#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/O3ozmS9cSa— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 7, 2023

Howe gave League One outfit Wednesday "a lot of credit" for pulling off the upset, with the lack of precision finishing from Newcastle, who sit third in the Premier League, proving costly.

"Bruno scored, and we had numerous chances and players in positions where you'd expect them to do better, just with their quality," Howe said. "But it was a night where their goalkeeper made a number of great saves, and we missed that clinical edge that we normally have.

"It hurts because it's a cup competition, and we're out at the first round – a huge disappointment for us; especially after last year it's doubly painful.

"The intention of the lads and myself and the coaching team was to come here and win. We haven't experienced losing for a long time, and sometimes that can be a positive thing on reflection, but at the moment it's too raw to feel that way."

Newcastle still have a second chance of cup silverware, with an EFL Cup quarter-final home tie against Leicester City coming up on Tuesday.

"We're determined to try and put it right on Tuesday," Howe said.