The first hat-trick of Alexander Isak's Premier League career consigned Ipswich Town to a 4-0 defeat when Newcastle United travelled to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.
"There is a good feeling around the team at the moment," Eddie Howe tentatively ventured after his side booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals in midweek. "I'd like to think we're building some momentum but proof will be in what we deliver on Saturday." It took less than half a minute for Howe's players to vindicate their manager.
Isak nestled the ball in the back of Ipswich's net just 26 seconds after kick off. VAR needed considerably longer to eventually confirm that the goal was allowed to stand following an interminable offside check.
Despite initial doubts from the on-pitch assistant referee, Jacob Murphy landed on the legal side of the virtual VAR lines. It was the start of a brilliant afternoon for the former Norwich City academy graduate.
Revelling in enemy territory, it was Murphy's cross which bounced kindly into the path of Isak. The hard-working winger soon got on the scoresheet himself. At the end of a slicking passing sequence which saw Newcastle patiently zig-zag their way into Ipswich's box, Murphy sent a venomous effort crashing in off the underside of Arijanet Muric's crossbar.
Isak concluded a first-half rout in stoppage time. Bruno Guimaraes was breathing down the neck of Jens Cajuste when Muric unhelpfully rolled a pass his way inside Ipswich's six-yard box. Newcastle's skipper toed the ball away and into the feet of a grateful Isak, who was almost too embarrassed to celebrate his finish after such a blunder.
It was Isak who wheeled away to lap up the acclaim of his third and Newcastle's fourth in the 54th minute, but Murphy had once again been at the heart of another successful surge. The former Canary was visibly brimming with confidence as he stabbed a back-heel between a cluster of blue shirts, somehow picking out Isak inside a crowded penalty area.
Dan Burn was denied a fifth for Newcastle by a VAR review, but nothing could deflate the jubilant mood coursing throughout the visitors.
Kieran McKenna's freshly promoted hosts are still waiting for their first home win of the season. Many of Ipswich's previous outings in front of their home fans have been close affairs, but Saturday's contest was effectively over inside the opening 30 seconds.
Sammie Szmodics
Sammie Szmodics captured the angst seeping through Ipswich's ranks / Michael Regan/GettyImages
Player ratings provided by FotMob
Player Rating
GK: Arijanet Muric 4.6/10
RB: Harry Clarke 5.0/10
CB: Dara O'Shea 5.7/10
CB: Cameron Burgess 5.7/10
LB: Leif Davis 5.8/10
CM: Sam Morsy 5.8/10
CM: Jens Cajuste 4.2/10
AM: Omari Hutchinson 5.6/10
RW: Wes Burns 6.2/10
ST: Conor Chaplin 6.2/10
LW: Sammie Szmodics 6.1/10
SUB: Ali Al Hamadi (46' for Hutchinson) 6.2/10
SUB: Jack Taylor (62' for Chaplin) 6.0/10
SUB: Kalvin Phillips (62' for Cajuste) 6.3/10
SUB: Ben Johnson (78' for Burns) 6.1/10
SUB: Nathan Broadhead (78' for Szmodics) 6.0/10
Subs not used: Christian Walton (GK), Conor Townsend, Jacob Greaves, Jack Clarke.
Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak stole the show on Saturday / Michael Regan/GettyImages
Player ratings provided by FotMob
Player Rating
GK: Martin Dubravka 7.7/10
RB: Tino Livramento 7.4/10
CB: Fabian Schar 7.8/10
CB: Dan Burn 7.6/10
LB: Lewis Hall 7.7/10
CM: Sandro Tonali 7.4/10
CM: Bruno Guimaraes 8.5/10
CM: Joe Willock 6.4/10
RW: Jacob Murphy 8.6/10
ST: Alexander Isak 9.7/10
LW: Anthony Gordon 8.3/10
SUB: Kieran Trippier (64' for Livramento) 6.6/10
SUB: Sean Longstaff (64' for Willock) 6.2/10
SUB: Harvey Barnes (64' for Murphy) 6.1/10
SUB: Miguel Almiron (73' for Isak) 6.1/10
SUB: Lewis Miley (80' for Guimaraes) 6.2/10
Subs not used: Odisseas Vlachodimos (GK), Lloyd Kelly, Matt Targett, William Osula
Player of the match - Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
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