Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4: Alexander Isak bags stunning hat-trick as Toon all over Tractor Boys from very first whistle
ALEXANDER ISAK fired a stunning hat-trick as Newcastle gave sorry Ipswich a thumping.
The Swedish striker was at his clinical best to punish an appalling performance from Kieran McKenna’s men.
Winger Jacob Murphy had a field day at Portman Road.
Not only did he set up two of Isak’s goals — the first and third — but also aptly got in on the scoring act with a wonderful goal to put Newcastle 2-0 up.
Isak has now fired 11 goals this season and six in his last five.
But Newcastle will not have many easier afternoons than this.
Ipswich are still searching for their first Premier League win at home since 2002 after nine attempts this season.
They could not have not got off to a worse start going behind after TWENTY-SIX seconds! Well, a bit longer because of VAR!
Fabian Schar played a peach of a long pass forward to Murphy racing down the right.
He supplied a superb cross which Sam Morsy could only clear as far as Isak who slammed home.
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Assistant Natalie Aspinall did not raise her flag until the goal was scored — adjudging Murphy was offside.
But after more than two minutes of checking, VAR reversed the decision and ruled the Toon star onside.
And finally the Newcastle players and fans were able to celebrate.
The Toon have not lost a game this season after taking the lead while Ipswich have not won after conceding first.
Newcastle should have doubled their lead when Murphy supplied another wonderful cross but Anthony Gordon’s downward header from six yards bounced over the bar under pressure from Morsy.
The Geordies were really enjoying themselves and Murphy had a pot shot from 25 yards that flashed wide of the left post.
But Ipswich did start to get some ball in and around the Toon box.
Jens Cajuste fired a shot over from the edge of the box and Sam Szmodics was played in by Conor Chaplin but keeper Martin Dubravka was quick to deny him from close range.
Isak and Murphy shine
Morsy brilliantly blocked Murphy as he was about to pull the trigger inside the Ipswich box.
Isak then was one-on-one with Arijanet Muric but the Ipswich keeper saved his effort from 12 yards.
Newcastle then deservedly went 2-0 up through Murphy.
The Toon star brilliantly fired past Muric off the underside of the bar from just inside the box after being teed up by Gordon following some good play around the penalty area.
Isak had another sighter after being played in by Gordon but his curling effort lacked enough power to trouble Muric from 15 yards.
Newcastle were handed a third on a plate.
Isak scores hat-trick
The ball was played out of the back by keeper Muric but Cajuste did not deal with it.
Bruno Guimaraes pounced, played the ball forward to Isak to slot home.
McKenna made a half-time change — bringing on Ali Al-Hamadi for Omari Hutchinson.
But Newcastle were denied a fourth by the woodwork.
Bruno thumped a header from a Lewis Hall cross that bounced off the base of the right post.
But they duly got it moments later when Murphy showed great close control and trickery after pouncing on a Cameron Burgess mishit clearance. He calmly rolled the ball across to Isak to poke a shot past Muric.
Leaky defence costs Ipswich
With the game in the bag, Eddie Howe rang the changes — bringing on Harvey Barnes, Sean Longstaff and Kieran Trippier and then Miguel Almiron for the brilliant Isak and Lewis Miley for Bruno.
Barnes lashed a volley over after Dan Burn had done well to keep Gordon’s deep cross alive.
But Ipswich were denied snatching a consolation when Dubravka got down quick to keep out a thumping low shot from Nathan Broadbent.
Burn had a late fifth ruled out for offside.
The Tractor Boys can forget any chance of extending their return to the Premier League beyond this season if McKenna cannot solve their leaky defending.
They are too easy to play. They cannot win at home. The omens are not good.
