Alexander Isak scored a hat trick as Newcastle United clobbered Ipswich Town 4-0 at Portman Road on Saturday.
Ipswich Town were looking for their first consecutive wins of the season and that was a fantasy by halftime.
Jacob Murphy also scored for Newcastle, who have won three-straight in all competitions by a combined 11-1 score line versus Leicester City, Brentford, and now the Tractor Boys.
The Magpies rise to sixth on the table with 26 points, one behind Man City. Ipswich stay 18th with 12 points, two back of safety.
Magpies confident, comfortable, and driven again
Eddie Howe’s unit have taken some grief for inconsistent play this season, and the manager himself has dealt with rancor over his lineup choices, but at the moment it’s all come out in the wash. Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali seem to have figured out the best way to play together in the midfield, and Jacob Murphy is absolutely thriving opposite right wing Anthony Gordon and center forward Alexander Isak. Young fullbacks Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall, the latter especially, also are at the best they’ve been in their young careers. Let’s not forget the goalkeeper, as club legend Martin Dubravka is capably deputizing for injured-again Nick Pope, and may well deserve the first shirt anyway. And the club will soon get its best center back, Sven Botman, back into the fold. That will force Howe to choose between the Dutchman and current pair Dan Burn and Fabian Schar. Competition and confidence are good things. With Harvey Barnes, Lewis Miley, Kieran Trippier, Sean Longstaff, William Osula, and Lloyd Kelly all anxious to win minutes, Howe has every reason to succeed against any opponent and he’s shown it in beating up a pair of bottom-half sides. Believe it or not, that counts as progress.
Ipswich vs Newcastle player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Ipswich vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Ipswich vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Newcastle host Aston Villa at 10am ET on Boxing Day, then go to Manchester United on Monday, December 30.
Ipswich go to Arsenal at 3:15pm Friday, then host Chelsea on December 30.
How to watch Ipswich vs Newcastle live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Portman Road Stadium — Ipswich
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Ipswich Town vs Newcastle City final score: 0-4
Alexander Isak 1', 45+2', 54', Jacob Murphy 32'
Ipswich Town vs Newcastle live updates, as they happened - By Nick Mendola
Fulltime — Ipswich 0-4 Newcastle
Newcastle subs
Murphy, Willock, and Livramento depart for Harvey Barnes, Sean Longstaff, and Kieran Trippier in the 65th minute. Willock’s looks due to injury after he fell hard on his back while shooting over the bar.
Newcastle up by four.
Isak comes off for Miguel Almiron in the 73rd minute.
Another in the 80th, as Newcastle round out their moves by bringing on Lewis Miley for Guimaraes.
Alexander Isak hat trick goal — Ipswich 0-4 Newcastle (54th minute)
Jacob Murphy takes the ball in the 18 and dribbles inside of a proverbial phone booth before chopping a back heel pass onto the plate of Isak.
The Swede has his hat trick, a 10th goal of the season.
Nearly four!
Lewis Hall races down the left flank and swings a sweet cross to the heart of the 18.
Bruno Guimaraes has to get horizontal to try and turn his header home and it just dinks off the bottom of the far post.
3-0, 52'.
Ipswich sub
Ali Al Hamadi comes into the game for Omari Hutchinson.
Halftime — Ipswich Town 0-3 Newcastle United
The Magpies are dominating a lower-half team for the second-straight game, a relief for Newcastle supporters and manager Eddie Howe alike.
Shots are 9-4 for the Magpies on just 52% possession, while the xG difference is robust at 1.59-0.29.
It’s not over, but it’s close, especially since Ipswich are missing suspended Liam Delap.
Alexander Isak goal — Ipswich 0-3 Newcastle (45+2')
He won’t get many easier goals than this, a holiday gift from Ipswich.
Muric takes his time and plays a short pass to Jens Cajuste, central in the 18.
Bruno Guimaraes charges onto Cajuste’s back, snapping the ball away from his feet to Isak.
Isak knows what to do here. Three-nil.
Jacob Murphy goal! Ipswich 0-2 Newcastle (32nd minute)
Anthony Gordon gets the ball on the left side of the box, dribbles around three space-guarding Tractor Boys, and bypasses a fourth with a pass to Jacob Murphy.
The in-form right winger still has work to do, taking a touch before rocketing a shot off the bottom of the bar and over the line.
Muric saves Isak
Murphy with a seeing-eye ball that Tonali dummies for Isak.
The Swede’s shot from 10 yards (or less) is right to Muric. He’s done that a few times the past three games.
Ipswich chance!
A funny bounce off Tonali opens up a chance for the Tractor Boys.
Sammie Szmodics is played into a 1v1 with Martin Dubravka, but the longtime Magpies goalkeeper makes a leg save in-close to keep Newcastle in front at Portman Road.
Still 1-0, now into the 24th minute.
Newcastle very much in the market for a second
In the market, but they’ve yet to reach the checkout line.
Anthony Gordon nodded just over, while Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have missed the frame with ambitious efforts.
1-0, 18'.
Alexander Isak goal! Ipswich 0-1 Newcastle (1st minute)
It counts! VAR finds that Murphy was onside when he raced onto the first-minute long ball over the top of the back line.
Poor aerial judgment from Leif Davis at left back, and his letting the long ball drop opened the door for Murphy on the right wing.
Muric could only get a hand to Isak’s opportunistic strike.
First minute goal?
Alexander Isak has scored a technical marvel after 26 seconds, but the flag is up!
VAR is having a look. Was Jacob Murphy offside in the buildup? It’s razor-thin, and depends on the lines.
Either way, Isak lashed a side-volley off the ground and past Arijanet Muric.
Ipswich lineup
Muric, H. Clarke, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis, Morsy, Cajuste, Burns, Chaplin, Hutchingson, Szmodics
Newcastle lineup
Dubravka, Hall, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Murphy, Isak
Ipswich Town vs Newcastle preview
Ipswich Town are looking for their first consecutive wins of the season as they begin a rough stretch of Festive Fixtures with a visit from Newcastle United to Portman Road on Saturday.
The Tractor Boys struck late to beat Wolves at the Molineux last time out, and have thrice spun consecutive results together since promotion to the Premier League last season. They’ve yet to stack wins, and this might be their best chance t win another game before the end of the year with Arsenal and Chelsea next.
Newcastle clobbered Leicester City in Week 16 and the Magpies would be in the top four right now if they had played that way against other bottom-half teams this season.
The Magpies’ 23 points are two off sixth place and five outside the top four. They are 2-2-1 against top six teams but have drawn Palace and Everton while, losing to Fulham and West Ham. They’ll also have to navigate the effects of midweek League Cup action versus Brentford.
Ipswich Town team news, focus
The absences of Delap and Szmodics are... not ideal. Kieran McKenna, however, has navigated this season with cunning to keep Ipswich off the bottom of the table and capable of anything.
OUT: Sam Szmodics (illness), Liam Delap (suspension), Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring), George Hirst (knee), Janoi Donacien (groin), Chiedozie Ogbene (achilles - out for season)
Newcastle United team news, focus
Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are in terrific form, and Alexander Isak seems to come up 2-3 great chances a game. It feels like the wrong time to play the Magpies, and long-absent star center back Sven Botman played big minutes for the u23s and will soon return to shore up the back line. Nick Pope is out but backup Martin Dubravka knows the ropes and is an able a backup.
OUT: Nick Pope (knee), Emil Krafth (shoulder), Callum Wilson (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Joelinton (head), Sven Botman (knee)
Ipswich vs Newcastle prediction
Ipswich have yet to win at home and are missing their top forwards. The Magpies have been inconsistent but their most-recent awakening should last a bit longer as Eddie Howe will keep driving for goals. Ipswich 0-2 Newcastle United.
