An early red card damaged Ipswich Town’s hopes of staving off relegation, as the Tractor Boys are headed back to the Championship following a 3-0 loss to UEFA Champions League qualification-chasing Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Ben Johnson was shown two yellow cards in the first half, Alexander Isak converted a penalty before halftime, and both Dan Burn and William Osula scored second-half goals in the decisive win.
WATCH — Newcastle v Ipswich Town full match replay
It’s one-and-done in the Premier League for Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich, who are 15 points back of 17th-place West Ham and can only claim 12 more points this season.
Newcastle, meanwhile, pull back into third place with 62 points, five behind second-place Arsenal. More importantly, the Magpies move two points clear of sixth-place Nottingham Forest and will finish the week in a UCL place.
Eddie Howe was back in the Newcastle dugout for the first time since suffering pneumonia weeks ago.
McKenna again rues Ipswich mistakes
The Tractor Boys have been far from a bore during their Premier League season but they make far too many mistakes to survive at this level. The penalty was questionable but Julio Enciso’s foul unnecessary. Ben Johnson’s first yellow card was silly and his second a definite. And Ipswich also could’ve conceded even earlier when goalkeeper Alex Palmer made a goofy collection of a loose ball before bounding into a planted Bruno Guimaraes and dropping the ball into his own goal. They can play the game, and there’s talent there, but from Week 1 to now they found ways to turns wins to draws and draws to losses via errors.
Magpies give Eddie Howe warm return
The pneumonia suffered by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe kept him from the club during the last few weeks of their Champions League qualification push, and on Saturday his players celebrated his return to the dugout by strengthening their case for a top-five place. It’s going to be a tough stretch run but Newcastle entered this game with vigor and never looked like a team in danger of dropping points at home. Ben Johnson’s second yellow card made this a cakewalk for the Magpies, who may have to win out to reach the UCL yet have also done enough to be the team sitting third and holding just a little more margin for error than their chasers.
Newcastle vs Ipswich player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs Ipswich player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs Ipswich player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Ipswich Town go to Everton at 10am ET Saturday. Newcastle go to Brighton at 9am the following day.
How to watch Newcastle vs Ipswich live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. James’ Park — Newcastle-upon-Tyne
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Newcastle vs Ipswich final score: 3-0
Alexander Isak pen 45+4', Dan Burn 56', William Osula
Newcastle vs Ipswich live updates
Full time — Newcastle United 3-0 Ipswich Town
Newcastle looked far superior even before Ipswich went down a man.
Good luck to Kieran McKenna in the second tier. His Tractor Boys weren’t good enough to stay up, but they were hardly a bore.
William Osula goal — Newcastle United 3-0 Ipswich Town (80th minute)
The Magpies make it three off a corner, Osula dancing in celebration after rising high to thud a header home from Trippier’s service.
Subs
Ipswich made a double move in the 71st minute, bringing on George Hirst and Conor Chaplin for Julio Enciso and Liam Delap.
A few minutes later, Callum Wilson and William Osula enter for Isak and Barnes.
Newcastle subs
That’s the end of the day for Murphy and Willock, as Anthony Gordon and Lewis Miley enter for the final 23 minutes with Newcastle up two goals and one man.
Dan Burn goal — Newcastle United 2-0 Ipswich (56th minute)
Murphy lays off for an overlapping Kieran Trippier, who chips toward the back post.
Dan Burn is large and leaps the highest to thump a header over the line.
Halftime — Newcastle United 1-0 Ipswich Town
It would take a lot for Newcastle to blow this game, as they are dominating and up both a man and goal.
Shots are 10-4 for Newcastle and none of Ipswich’s chances have been dangerouis.
The Magpies’ possession has risen to 72% and xG is 1.94-0.12.
The Tractor Boys look likely to have their relegation confirmed within the next hour.
Alexander Isak penalty goal — Newcastle United 1-0 Ipswich Town (45+4')
Clinical finish.
VAR review — Newcastle penalty!
Jacob Murphy is into the box and hooked on the arm by Julie Enciso.
He hits the deck, but no penalty is called on the field.
If it is a foul, is it in the 18? It looks like the latter is true.
Tractor Boys goal line clearance
Luke Woolfenden does very well to head over his own bar from inside the six.
Newcastle are all over Ipswich, who would be thrilled to reach half time 0-0.
Ipswich Town red card
Ben Johnson is on a yellow as Alexander Isak dinks the ball around him.
Johnson wraps his hands around the Swede for what’s a pretty easy yellow card.
Ipswich will play 53 minutes down a man in their bid to avoid relegation.
Alex Palmer gaffe spared blushes
A Newcastle cross is whipped into the box and nodded high into the air.
Bruno Guimaraes plants himself in front of Alex Palmer as the goalkeeper pursues the ball.
Palmer crashes into Guimaraes and fumbles the ball into his own goal.
VAR confirms the decision and it feels a bit lucky for the Tractor Boys.
0-0, 23'.
Magpies ripping crosses across goal
The first 10 minutes have featured plenty of Newcastle on the ball in the Ipswich final third.
Harvey Barnes has been at the center (or physical left) of a lot of the action, while Jacob Murphy has also provided good service.
Ipswich counter and win a free kick from the left in the 12th minute. Played short, it’s eventually knocked out of play by Alexander Isak.
0-0, 13'.
Newcastle lineup
Pope, Trippier, Burn, Schar, Livramento, Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock, Barnes, Murphy, Isak
Joelinton misses out on the 18, which is a bonus for the Tractor Boys. Sven Botman makes the bench for the Magpies, and Harvey Barnes form means Anthony Gordon’s return to the XI waits at least another week.
Ipswich Town lineup
Palmer, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Burgess, Greaves, Morsy, J. Taylor, Johnson, Enciso, J. Clarke, Delap
Omari Hutchinson is fit for the bench, while Jens Cajuste is out of the XI at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle United vs Ipswich Town preview
Ipswich Town could be relegated by the end of their game with Newcastle United on Saturday even if they manage to knock off the hosts at St. James’ Park. The Tractor Boys’ 21 points are 15 behind 17th-place West Ham, who also play at 10am ET Saturday. With just 15 points available to Kieran McKenna’s men, there’s zero margin for error.
Will it happen Saturday?
The host Magpies seek to get their top-five plans on track when they welcome the Tractor Boys to town, having gone from red-hot team to soundly-beaten as their unrotated side was smacked in the second half against Aston Villa at Villa Park. They still control their destiny, in fifth place with 59 points. That’s two points shy of third-place Man City and two ahead of both Chelsea and Aston Villa. Newcastle play Chelsea on May 11, and will want to make as much distance as possible via matches like Saturday’s against Ipswich.
Newcastle United team news, focus
OUT: Lewis Hall (foot - out for season), Jamaal Lascelles (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Fabian Schar (thigh), Sven Botman (knee)
Ipswich Town team news, focus
OUT: Leif Davis (suspension), Omari Hutchinson (hamstring), Jaden Philogene-Bidace (knee), Kalvin Phillips (achilles), Arijanet Muric (shoulder), Sammi Szmodics (ankle), Wes Burns (knee), Chiedozie Ogbene (achilles - out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Nathan Broadhead (thigh), Conor Townsend (thigh)
Newcastle vs Ipswich prediction
The Magpies thumped Ipswich 4-0 at Portman Road in December. That and their loss to Villa means there’s zero chance they aren’t amped for this return fixture. Alexander Isak hit a hat trick at Ipswich and he’s likely to be raring to go after a quiet match against the Villans. Newcastle 3-1 Ipswich Town.
