Ipswich 0-4 Newcastle: Alexander Isak nets his first Premier League hat-trick as Eddie Howe's side cruise to victory at Portman Road
Pre-match here, it was a celebration of Sir Bobby Robson, who managed both Ipswich and Newcastle. Members of Ipswich’s successful 1978 and 1981 squads were in attendance and a tribute to the late Sir Bobby was displayed on the big screen as the teams walked out. The match programme had a picture of his statue […]
Pre-match here, it was a celebration of Sir Bobby Robson, who managed both Ipswich and Newcastle.
Members of Ipswich’s successful 1978 and 1981 squads were in attendance and a tribute to the late Sir Bobby was displayed on the big screen as the teams walked out.
The match programme had a picture of his statue at Portman Road draped in a half and half scarf and outside the away end, the Newcastle fans who had travelled 285 miles, queued to leave flowers and take pictures.
By the end of their afternoon in Suffolk, it was only those Newcastle fans left inside to sing ‘There’s only one Bobby Robson’ after a quite shambolic Ipswich performance that saw them three goals down at half-time and booed off by their own fans for the first time this season.
In fairness, Eddie Howe’s side were superb with Alexander Isak getting his first Premier League hat-trick and Jacob Murphy enjoying one of his finest performances in a Newcastle shirt.
A word too for Sandro Tonali who dictated the tempo of the game and didn’t put a foot wrong on an afternoon it where it was men against boys.
Alexander Isak netted his first hat-trick for Newcastle as they ran riot against Ipswich
The Swedish striker gave his side the advantage after just 26 seconds at Portman Road
Result means Kieran McKenna’s side are still winless at home in their return to the top flight
When Kieran McKenna’s side got promoted, not even the most pessimistic of the Tractor Boys supporters would have thought they would reach Christmas Day without a home win in the Premier League.
They lost only one of their 23 home Championship games last season.
As the players warmed up, Robson’s favourite song – My Way by Frank Sinatra – was played. The problem for McKenna, who has credit in the bank after successive promotions, is that his way is simply not working at home. Their last win at Portman Road in the top-flight came in 2002 and this, their heaviest defeat of the season, left them in the relegation zone, two points behind Leicester in 17th who play tomorrow.
McKenna made one change from the side that beat Wolves last week and it was an enforced one with top scorer Liam Delap suspended. In came Sam Szmodics while Howe was forced to make one change too with Joe Willock coming in for the suspended Joelinton.
From the word go, everything was off for Ipswich who hit the ball straight out of play from kick-off and it took just 26 seconds for Howe’s side to have the ball in the Ipswich net with Isak finishing well on the half-volley after Murphy’s cross.
Murphy was initially flagged offside but after a ridiculously lengthy VAR check that took over three minutes, the goal was given.
Newcastle are yet to lose after scoring first in the league this season and they were rampant.
On the 10-minute mark, Tonali’s effort went just over the bar before Anthony Gordon headed over from a few yards out.
Once again, it was from Murphy’s cross down the right with former Newcastle season-ticket holder Leif Davis at left-back struggling to cope.
Newcastle should have been two up shortly after but Isak missed a sitter when he was through one-on-one but hit the ball straight at Ari Muric.
But the Magpies doubled their lead in the 32nd minute through a thumping right-footed hit from Murphy that was in the back of the net before Muric could even lift his hand.
In first-half added time, Muric took too long trying to play out from the back and his pass was intercepted by Bruno Guimaraes, who teed up Isak for one of the easiest goals of his career.
When Stuart Attwell blew the half-time whistle, McKenna and co were booed off.
At the break, he took off Omari Hutchinson for Ali Al-Hamadi but it did nothing to stop a Newcastle side that was oozing in swagger, come the second half.
Jacob Murphy enjoyed one of his best performances for Newcastle in Saturday’s clash
The tempo of the game slowed in the second half with the visitors thoroughly in control
Dan Burn looked to have added a fifth for the Magpies in stoppage time but his strike was ruled out by VAR
Guimaraes’s header hit the post after an electric Newcastle counter before Murphy’s outrageous backheel found Isak, who finished easily in the 54th minute to become just the second Swedish player to score a Premier League hat-trick after Freddie Ljungberg.
It was his 20th Premier League goal in 2024, behind only Erling Haaland (26) and Cole Palmer (25).
Isak nearly turned provider too just before the hour mark, teeing up Willock who cut in but fired over. It could easily have been more but Howe removed both Murphy and Isak shortly after to give them a rest.
What a week it has been for Howe, with three wins and three statement performances and his side now just two points behind Aston Villa in fifth, after going four games without a win.
For Ipswich, whose starting eleven contained six players that were with them in League One two seasons ago, this was exactly the kind of afternoon they would have feared when they went up. With Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham to come over the next fortnight, things could get even uglier.
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