Alexander Isak gives Newcastle United the lead after just 26 seconds at Portman Road.Alexander Isak gives Newcastle United the lead after just 26 seconds at Portman Road. (Image: Steve Waller)
FIRST MINUTES WOES
It was Town's kick-off. Yet, with 26 seconds on the clock, Newcastle had the ball in the back of the net.
The Magpies clearly knew that Leif Davis was going to gamble on getting forwards from the off. Fabian Schar launched a long ball forwards into the vacated space, Jacob Murphy had the beating of Cameron Burgess and cross, half cleared by Sam Morsy, was finished off expertly by Alexander Isak.
The offside flag looked like it was going to give the Blues a reprieve. After a three-minute VAR check, the decision to chalk off the goal was reversed.
This is the third time this season that Ipswich have conceded a goal inside the opening minute following on from early openers by Michail Antonio (West Ham) and Marcus Rashford (Man United).
"It wasn't from the kick-off..." argued McKenna. "Look, it's probably not giving away too much when I say that Leif is really aggressive in terms of jumping the press on first phase. He's done it for two-and-a-half seasons here. We want to be a brave team and when you do that you're always going to leave some space.
"It wasn't an unusual move from us from a defensive point of view, but we didn't execute and deal with it as well as we usually do."
Jacob Murphy fires Newcastle into a 2-0 lead.Jacob Murphy fires Newcastle into a 2-0 lead. (Image: PA)
FAR TOO OPEN
Whenever Ipswich went behind in League One and the Championship their first thought was to go and score themselves. They were often able to instantly turn the momentum.
In the Premier League, however, it quickly became apparent that chasing an equaliser can very easily lead to conceding a second and third.
Those harsh early lessons, against the likes of Liverpool and Man City, were put into practice. The team did get better at feeling when it was right to go batten down the hatches and ride out the storm before trying to set sail again.
For some reason, however, they slipped back into bad habits for this one. Maybe it was because confidence was high after that 2-1 win at Wolves, perhaps. I don't know.
Anthony Gordon put a header over, then Jacob Murphy fired narrowly wide in the space of a few seconds as Newcastle found their groove. Town tried to swing back. Jens Cajuste shot over down the side of the box and Sammie Szmodics had an effort smothered by Martin Dubravka. The Magpies were happy to let the gloves fly given they had heavier hands. Sam Morsy made a last-ditch block to deny Murphy, Isak fired straight at Aro Muric before eventually Murphy smashed in off the underside of the bar.
That, surely, would sting Town into damage limitation mode. Sadly not...
Aro Muric's pass out the back led to Newcastle's third goal just before half-time.Aro Muric's pass out the back led to Newcastle's third goal just before half-time. (Image: Steve Waller)
GIFTING THE THIRD
Town had played through the press quite nicely. Still, there's a time and place. Seconds before the break, at 2-0 down, was not the moment to be taking risks.
Aro Muric had time to control Dara O'Shea's back pass and assess his options. He opted for a short, straight pass into Jens Cajuste who, unaware of the danger behind, had his pocket picked by Bruno Guimaraes. Isak was left with the simplest of finishes.
I do have some sympathy for Muric. A long lump up field to an undersized attack would probably have drawn groans. That was probably the lesser of two evils though given the state of play. Again, that's game management.
Muric is the easy target for frustration, but collectively the team made some bad decisions leading up to half-time. Outfielders constantly trying to play killer passes which led to Red Arrows like counter-attacks created a chaotic game state when calm was required.
That's what McKenna means when he talks about lessons needing to be learned.
Ali Al-Hamadi came on at half-time to lead the line for Ipswich Town.Ali Al-Hamadi came on at half-time to lead the line for Ipswich Town. (Image: Steve Waller)
MISSING DELAP
Part of the reason Town were constantly trying those cute ground passes was because, without the suspended Liam Delap, they'd lost their direct out ball.
Makeshift striker Szmodics tried gamely to run the channels and in behind, but he doesn't have the physicality of Delap. Few do. Town just couldn't make the ball stick in the final third.
How would the Blues have fared in this game with their six-goal talisman crashing into Newcastle's centre-back duo of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn? We'll never know thanks to his silly/unfair (depending on how you look at it) booking in the tunnel at Wolves.
McKenna brought on Ali Al-Hamadi for the ineffective Omari Hutchinson at the break, with Szmodics moving back to his usual inside left role. The idea was to give the team more of an out ball. Arguably, an extra man in midfield to help Morsy and Cajuste compete with the trio of Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock should have been a bigger priority.
Morsy ended up crashing into the back of Guimaraes and getting booked. He'll now be suspended for Friday's trip to Arsenal.
Town players react after Newcastle scored their fourth.Town players react after Newcastle scored their fourth. (Image: Steve Waller)
A FIRST...
Was the second half much better? Not really.
Guimaraes headed against the post, Isak stabbed in from a Murphy back heel to complete his hat-trick, Willock lifted a golden chance over the bar, Muric saved from Gordon, Harvey Barnes lashed over and Burn had a goal chalked off for offside at the death.
Newcastle could easily have scored six or seven in this match. Town had just two shots on target.
Kalvin Phillips getting back on the field following an injury absence and Nathan Broadhead producing a bright cameo are about the only straws I can clutch at.
On the final whistle, I tweeted that this was the first time that Ipswich had been outclassed since stepping up to the Premier League. It was a comment challenged by many.
Let me add something. This is the first time that Ipswich have been outclassed this season *from start to finish*. Even on some of the more disappointing days - Man City, West Ham, Everton, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest - the Blues have been competitive for large chunks. In most of those games there were 'what if' moments. That wasn't the case here though.
Still, this was always going to happen at some point. You might not want to hear it, but it's true. Ipswich have risen rapidly to these heady heights. They went into this game without Axel Tuanzebe, Chiedozie Ogbene, Liam Delap and George Hirst.
Newcastle were in the Champions League last season. Their starting XI cost £315m to assemble. They brought another £70m of talent off the bench.
If Man City can lose a game 4-0 at home, then Ipswich certainly can.
Sir Bobby Robson's favourite song was played before kick-off - 'That's Life', by Frank Sinatra sang. Quite. It's now about how everyone - manager, players and fans alike - respond.
Up next... Arsenal and Chelsea. Here's hoping for a Christmas miracle!