Newcastle United's 4-0 victory against Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon at Portman Road ensured that they followed up their qualification for the EFL Cup semi-final with an important three points in the Premier League.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle had the perfect start considering Alexander Isak opened the scoring after just 30 seconds - though they needed the intervention of VAR to confirm that Jacob Murphy was onside in the build-up.
The Toon were always going to be difficult to beat, but Kieran McKenna's side had no chance one Murphy and Isak gave the visitors a 3-0 lead before half time.
Isak went on to score a hat-trick, and the victory took Newcastle from 12th place with 23 points to seventh place with 26 points, just one fewer than sixth-placed Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Ipswich remain in 18th place with 12 points in the relegation zone and will be in the bottom three on Christmas day.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
While losing against Newcastle is by no means a concerning result by itself, Ipswich have to start picking up wins at home if they are to stay in the Premier League.
They are the only team in the top flight yet to win on their own turf, and it is clear that they badly need Liam Delap to return from injury in order to give them a way of sustaining attacks and escaping pressure.
As for Magpies, the Christmas period has been a mostly enjoyable experience for fans considering they stopped Liverpool, are into the EFL Cup semi-finals and won their final match before Christmas day.
Howe has come under pressure in recent times, with some suggesting that he had taken Newcastle as far as he could, but the team are only four points from the Champions League spots after 17 Premier League games.
IPSWICH TOWN VS. NEWCASTLE UNITED HIGHLIGHTS
1st min: Ipswich Town 0-1 Newcastle United (Alexander Isak)
Murphy collects a pass over the top of Ipswich's defence near the halfway line on the right, and though Sam Morsy clears his cross, the ball lands at the feet of Isak, who strikes into the ground from inside the box and beats goalkeeper Arijanet Muric after just 30 seconds.
VAR says that Murphy was onside!
32nd min: Ipswich Town 0-2 Newcastle United (Jacob Murphy)
Newcastle work possession from right to left before Lewis Hall drives with the ball across the face of the penalty area and laying a pass to Murphy, who viscously strikes the ball from the right side of the box onto the underside of the bar and into the back of the net.
He had no right to score that!
45+2nd min: Ipswich Town 0-3 Newcastle United (Alexander Isak)
Ipswich try to play out from the back, but as Muric passes poorly to Jens-Lys Cajuste inside his own penalty area, Bruno Guimaraes pounces from behind and pokes the ball to Isak, who sits the goalkeeper down before sweeping home from point-blank range.
Game over!
54th min: Ipswich Town 0-4 Newcastle United (Alexander Isak)
Jacob Murphy collects the ball on the right side of the penalty area, and after a mazy dribble he backheels possession to Isak, who calmly pokes past Muric from the centre of the box.
Hat-trick for Isak!
MAN OF THE MATCH - ALEXANDER ISAK
Isak proved once again how deadly he is in front of goal, scoring three times and firing Newcastle to a comfortable victory at Portman Road.
All three of the striker's goals came from close range, testament to his excellent timing and positioning in the box.
During the match, Isak scored three of his five shots, had the most touches inside the penalty area of anybody on the pitch and also created two chances.
IPSWICH TOWN VS. NEWCASTLE UNITED MATCH STATS
Possession: Ipswich Town 41%-59% Newcastle United
Shots: Ipswich Town 10-15 Newcastle United
Shots on target: Ipswich Town 2-7 Newcastle United
Corners: Ipswich Town 2-1 Newcastle United
Fouls: Ipswich Town 9-7 Newcastle United
BEST STATS
WHAT NEXT?
Ipswich's first fixture after Christmas will be against Arsenal at the Emirates in the Premier League, and their final game of 2024 will come against Chelsea on December 30.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are set to take on Aston Villa at home on boxing day, before playing Manchester United four days later in the league.
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