Ipswich Town suffered a 4-0 defeat to Newcastle United at Portman Road. Stuart Watson shares his thoughts on the game.
First-Minute Struggles
Ipswich kicked off, but within 26 seconds, Newcastle had the ball in the back of the net. The Magpies exploited space left by Leif Davis’s forward gamble. Fabian Schar’s long ball set Jacob Murphy free, whose cross, partially cleared by Sam Morsy, was finished by Alexander Isak.
An initial offside flag offered hope, but a three-minute VAR review overturned the decision, awarding Newcastle the goal. This marked the third time this season Ipswich has conceded in the opening minute, following early strikes from Michail Antonio (West Ham) and Marcus Rashford (Man United).
Manager Kieran McKenna defended the team’s aggressive defensive approach, emphasizing their commitment to bravery despite occasional lapses.
Too Open at the Back
Ipswich’s usual instinct to fight back after conceding left them exposed in the Premier League. While they’ve learned to bide their time against tougher opponents, they reverted to bad habits in this match, perhaps buoyed by confidence from their recent win at Wolves.
Newcastle capitalized, with Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy coming close before Murphy doubled the lead with a powerful strike. Ipswich tried to respond but struggled to match Newcastle’s dominance.
Costly Mistakes
As halftime neared, Ipswich’s decision-making faltered. Aro Muric, under no pressure, opted for a risky short pass to Jens Cajuste, who lost possession to Bruno Guimaraes. Isak capitalized, making it 3-0.
While Muric faced criticism, the team’s collective errors created a chaotic game state when composure was crucial. McKenna pointed to these lapses as lessons to be learned.
Missing Delap
Without suspended striker Liam Delap, Ipswich lacked a physical presence in attack. Makeshift striker Sammie Szmodics couldn’t replicate Delap’s ability to hold up play, leaving Ipswich unable to maintain possession in the final third.
McKenna introduced Ali Al-Hamadi at halftime, but the lack of midfield reinforcements allowed Newcastle’s trio to dominate.
A Second-Half Struggle
The second half offered little improvement. Isak completed his hat-trick, Newcastle hit the post, and Ipswich managed just two shots on target. Injuries and suspensions further weakened the Blues, who were outclassed from start to finish.
Despite the heavy defeat, perspective is important. Newcastle’s squad, worth hundreds of millions, showcased their Champions League pedigree. Ipswich’s rise to the Premier League has been rapid, and challenges like this were always likely.
What’s Next?
With tough fixtures against Arsenal and Chelsea ahead, Ipswich will need resilience to recover. As Sir Bobby Robson’s favorite song, *That’s Life*, reminds us, it’s about how you bounce back. A Christmas miracle might be just what the Blues need.
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