A hat-trick from Alexander Isak coupled with a powerful strike from Jacob Murphy was enough to see the Magpies out of sight early in the second half, with the Blues unable to build on last week's crucial victory at Wolves.
Looking for a fast start, Ipswich played the ball forward from kick off, with Conor Chaplin trying a low pass out to Omari Hutchinson, who wasn’t far enough down the right flank as the visitors won a throw in.
Alexander Isak put Newcastle ahead in the opening seconds of the matchAlexander Isak put Newcastle ahead in the opening seconds of the match (Image: Steve Waller)
Newcastle sent the ball down the right to Fabian Schar, who launched a ball up the flank to Murphy. Sam Morsy failed to clear his cross, allowing Isak to rifle the ball into the roof of the net to hand his side the lead after 26 seconds.
The flag was raised immediately, and a three-minute VAR check eventually showed that Murphy was onside next to Cameron Burgess, allowing the goal to stand.
Aside from a couple of moments on the counter, the Magpies seemed quite comfortable in possession, while early decisions from referee Stuart Attwell frustrated the home crowd.
The Blues faced five shots on target in the first half aloneThe Blues faced five shots on target in the first half alone (Image: Steve Waller)
Newcastle really should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute as Murphy chased to keep a ball in play before crossing to Anthony Gordon in the middle. No Ipswich defenders were back to stop him from making contact with a header, but Harry Clarke managed to rush in and put him off, forcing him to direct the ball into the ground and over the bar.
When they did find space in the final third, Ipswich looked confident. A quick burst down the right from Wes Burns saw him cross the ball low into the box to Sammie Szmodics.
Newcastle dealt with that threat, but couldn’t retain possession as Szmodics was slipped into the box by Chaplin, forcing Martin Dubravka to make the save in the 20th minute.
Jacob Murphy his side 2-0 up just after the half-hour markJacob Murphy his side 2-0 up just after the half-hour mark (Image: Ross Halls)
Davis, however, gave the ball away soon after, allowing Eddie Howe’s side to launch a quick counter. Bruno Guimaraes picked it up on the right side of the box and took aim, but Morsy got back to make an important tackle.
The match descended into a basketball game, with neither side comfortable in possession. It allowed Sandro Tonali to play Isak into the box again, where Arijanet Muric denied him from close range in the 25th minute.
Just as the tempo died down, Newcastle struck again, having been given too much space in midfield. Gordon picked up the ball on the edge of the area and carried it from left to right, setting up Murphy to rifle an effort off the crossbar and into the net in the 32nd minute, giving the visitors a two-goal advantage.
Newcastle pounced on a mistake to make it 3-0 before the half-time breakNewcastle pounced on a mistake to make it 3-0 before the half-time break (Image: Steve Waller)
As four minutes of added time was announced, Szmodics had a run from deep before blazing a shot into the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand. It summed up their half, in truth.
Newcastle managed to rub salt in the wounds a couple of minutes later as Dara O’Shea passed the ball back to Muric. The goalkeeper looked to play it out to Jens Cajuste, who was robbed of the ball by Guimaraes before Isak slotted the ball into the net to make it 3-0.
Both chances had half chances to grab a goal before the break, but the Magpies maintained their three-goal lead. The referee’s whistle was met by a smattering of boos from those in attendance, louder than previous weeks.
Isak bagged his hat-trick early in the second halfIsak completed his hat-trick early in the second half (Image: PA)
Kieran McKenna switched things up at the break, withdrawing Omari Hutchinson and bringing on Ali Al-Hamadi to lead the line. He was presented with a chance to get his first Premier League goal early in the second half, but saw his shot blocked.
If the game wasn't dead before half time, it certainly was in the 54th minute. Quick feet from Murphy allowed him to break into the box and set up Isak with a backheel flick, with the striker slotting the ball past Muric to complete his hat-trick and get Newcastle's fourth.
Joe Willock came close to adding a fifth soon after, breezing past Harry Clarke before firing over the crossbar.
Sam Morsy will miss the trip to Arsenal after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the second halfSam Morsy will miss the trip to Arsenal after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the second half (Image: Steve Waller)
McKenna clearly looked for damage limitation shortly after the hour-mark, bringing on Jack Taylor and Kalvin Phillips for Conor Chaplin and Jens Cajuste. Skipper Sam Morsy was booked soon after, meaning that he'll miss the trip to Arsenal on Friday, December 27th.
With the game wrapped up, Newcastle sat back. Substitute Nathan Broadhead forced a save from Dubravka with a dipping effort. It was Ipswich's second shot on target of the match. The Welsh international did, however, look lively during his short time on the bench.
Dan Burn had a fifth goal ruled out from a scramble deep into stoppage time following a VAR check, which was one of the minor positives from a game that was largely devoid of them. Unfortunately for Ipswich, their fixture list doesn't get any easier after Christmas.
Town XI: Muric; H. Clarke, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste (Phillips 62'); Burns (Johnson 78'), Chaplin (Taylor 62'), Hutchinson (Al-Hamadi 46'); Szmodics (Broadhead 78')
Newcastle XI: 4-3-3: Dubravka; Livramento (Trippier 64'), Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes (Miley, Tonali, Willock (Longstaff 64'); Murphy (Barnes 64'), Isak (Almiron 73'), Gordon
Attendance: 29,774 (2,991 away)