Ipswich Town downed by four star Newcastle as Tractor Boys remain in the relegation zone

A hat trick from Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and a wonderful strike from Jacob Murphy condemned Ipswich to another home defeat in the Premier League.

The Tractor Boys were looking for their first three points of the campaign at a soggy Portman Road but were totally outclassed by the dominant visiting Magpies in their commanding 4-0 victory leaving Town in the relegation zone in 18th spot on 12 points, two away from nearest rivals Leicester who play Wolverhampton Wanderers tomorrow.

Isak netted after just 26 seconds with his second coming following a comical defensive lapse with Murphy adding the second in the 32nd minute. He completed his three goal tally in the 54th minute.

The Swedish international had the ball in the back of the Ipswich Town net shortly after the kick off with assistant referee Natalie Aspinall having her flag raised for offside but after a long three minute VAR check the goal was allowed.

It came following a long ball forward from Fabian Schar into the right channel. Jacob Murphy crossed but the ball was half cleared by Town skipper Sam Morsy, who was later booked and subsequently suspended for the next game missing the trip to Arsenal, and Isak arrived to send a bouncing shot high into the net for his ninth goal of the season.

Ten minutes later a cross from Newcastle skipper Bruno Guimaraes went over the leaping Isak in the box.

Newcastle kept the pressure on and Sandro Tonali’s dipping shot from 25 yards out grazed the roof of the net. 

The visitors were having the lion’s share of the game and Murphy got ahead of Burgess and just about hooked the ball back into danger tight to the byline. But Anthony Gordon’s downward header at the far post, under pressure from Harry Clarke, bounced down into the turf and up over the bar and Murphy’s shot from the edge of the penalty area just flew past the post.

Jens Cajuste showed great footwork down the left side of the box and fired an angled shot just over as Town sought an equaliser from the early setback.

Newcastle, aiming to take a two goal lead, nearly went further in front when Isak had just Ipswich and Kosovan goalkeeper Arijanet Muric to beat but shot straight at him as the heaven’s opened and rain swept across Portman Road.

The visitors took a deserved 2-0 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half through a rasping shot from Murphy.

There was neat play between Joe Willock, Isak and Gordon,  with the latter twisting and turning in the box. He squared the ball to Murphy and his rising shot on the angle went in off the underside of the bar with a slight deflection appearing to come off Cameron Burgess.

With the first period coming to a close Isak tried to bend a shot into the far corner of the Ipswich goal but he did make it 3-0 to the visitors in added on time following a dreadful defensive mix up.

Dara O’Shea passed the ball back to Muric who appeared to delay clearing the ball and passed it straight to Cajuste who had his pocket picked by Guimaraes with the ball ending up at the feet of Isak who was left with the simplest of finishes.

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna made an instant second half substitution bringing on Ali Al-Hamadi in place of Omari Hutchinson who like many of the other Town players had a disappointing opening first 45 minutes.

Guimaraes struck the base of the post when he flung himself forwards to get his head to a cross from Lewis Hall and Isak secured his hat trick and Newcastle’s fourth after 54 minutes when Murphy smartly back heeled the ball in the box for the in from striker to stab the ball home.

Willock then shrugged off Harry Clarke and lifted a golden opportunity over the bar.

There were a host of changes just after the hour mark with Ipswich bringing on Kalvin Phillips and Jack Taylor for Cajuste and Connor Chaplin while Newcastle brought off Tino Livramento, Murphy and Joe Willock for Harvey Barnes, Sean Longstaff and Kieran Trippier.

The woes for Ipswich continued when skipper Morsy was shown the yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell after clattering into the back of Guimaraes in midfield making it five bookings and being suspended for the game next Friday at the Emirates Stadium.

Newcastle’s three goal hero Isak was replaced by Miguel Almiron after 73 minutes and Nathan Broadhead and Ben Johnson were introduced for Ipswich in place of Wes Burns and Sam Szomidics with Broadhead having a rare shot at goal parried away by the Magpies Slovakian goalkeeper Martin Dubravka … only the Town’s second shot of the whole game on target.

Lewis Miley came on the replace Guimaraes with 10 minutes remaining who moments earlier went down in a heap following a challenge from Al-Hamadi who was shown a yellow card.

The ole, ole chants were coming from the 2,991 visiting fans among the 29,774 attending the game as the match drew to a conclusion and central defender Dan Burn thought he added the icing on the cake with a fifth goal for Newcastle in the 94th minute but it was disallowed following a VAR check for offside.