The Newcastle United fans split pretty much 45/45 down the middle (10% are maniacs…) | OneFootball

I feel like I’m up against it in this recollection of the truth, as a borderline argument occurred between me and the editor of The Mag in what started as a benign discussion about what this game might bring.

The problem I have is that everything I write is subsequently reviewed and updated by him, at a point where I am unable to retort, so this gives him a major advantage…

Interestingly, I reckon our divergent views will have covered the Newcastle fanbase pretty much 45/45 down the middle (10% are maniacs that sit outside of any reasoned argument and I can point you to a couple of social media sites that will reinforce this quickly).

Anyway, Mr Editor’s view was that this game presented a golden opportunity to accelerate a goal difference that could prove decisive in the incredibly tight Champions League race.

Ipswich came north destroyed by injury and suspension, factors that were largely academic given that fact they have been so ill-equipped for the Premier League, that our 4-0 romp at Portman Road in December was pretty much par for the course. As Ipswich’s plucky rise from League one has been dashed to an abrupt halt, run aground on the rocks of the established Premier League.

Conversely, I opined that this game was sort of horrible. The penance of becoming a good team is that on occasion you get games like this, where you are chasing a big prize and an opponent turns up who is so far adrift that anything other than a comfortable win would be way below expectations. My view was that securing the three points by hook, crook or skullduggery would absolutely suffice, as we just needed to avoid the pitfalls of a potential bit of classic late-season funny business. I even cited seasons 94-95 and 01-02 where en-route-to-relegation Ipswich turned up and snatched springtime draws with Europe-chasing United as bad karma, not to mention their doing similar to crash the 09/10 Championship party. No, just the win, third place and a steady route to Brighton would absolutely diddly-do.

The fact Joelinton was unable to make the squad was ok-ish. Ipswich needed to be got at and the midfield battle that’s likely to be a key factor in games ahead wasn’t really an issue today. If Big Joe can get himself sharp for them then this was a positive move, whereas little Joe coming in gave a bit of pace and impetus to midfield might have added potential to the goal difference push.

The first half played out in a way that was more aligned with Jamie’s level of prediction as a pretty ragged performance was posted by United. Things just seemed a bit disjointed as that final ball kept going astray and there were moments that seemed a bit through the looking glass, such as Isak blaring over the bar when it seemed he just had to guide Murphy’s cross into an open goal, or Livramento’s danger ball across the face of goal evading everyone when the slightest touch was needed.

This was all complemented by a bit of niggle developing, seemingly centred around Joe Willock, who was after getting involved in a few bits of fracas. This seemed to go too far when Morsy dragged him down in an off-the-ball rugby tackle that went to a VAR review. The decision was to let him stay on the field but it turned out to be a stay of execution for the visitors.

When Dan Burn swiped the ball away from Ben Johnson in the Newcastle box, there was a second of alarm as Johnson went down like a bag of spanners and the ref went running towards the incident. Fortunately, Mr Salisbury was showing urgency to punish Johnson for his embarrassing swan dive. I said to my mate at the time that there would be some justice if this needless yellow contributed to a dismissal…

The next bizarre incident saw United finally get the ball in the net and yet more work for the VAR, who decided against awarding what would and probably should have been a very peculiar goal. Trippier floated a cross in and Barnes looped a header in towards the back post, where the keeper came to claim and barged into the back of Bruno. Palmer misjudged the drop entirely and allowed it to bounce off Bruno’s shoulder and into the goal. Of course anything resembling a foul on the goalie is always called out and the fact that Bruno did nowt wrong was neither here nor there.

The fear was there that this might be one of those days, but the run up to half-time saw things veer away from my pessimistic fears and more towards the editor’s jollier prediction.

Isak was away wide on the left but it was hardly a direct goal threat, so it’s baffling why the previously booked Johnson repeated Ipswich’s previous rugby defence by grabbing the striker around the waist and trying to wrestle him to the ground. The ref was equally as quick to produce a second yellow and we had best part of an hour against ten men.

The first signs weren’t great that United would avoid an afternoon of impossible bad juju as Tonali smashed one against the post and Bruno’s crazy overhead kick was headed off the line. It looked like half-time would come in scoreless but Ipswich couldn’t resist another spot of self-destruction.

The ref wasn’t nearly as sharp as he had been dealing with Johnson, ridiculously waving away the claims when Murphy was played in by Bruno and had space between himself and the goal, only for workie-ticket irritant Enciso to paw grab and manhandle his shirt in an obvious pull back. The VAR, who I assume had long abandoned any plans for a quiet afternoon, set the ref straight after the unnecessary charade of the old monitor review. Once the procession was over, Isak biffed in the penna and I toddled off for my half-time beer happy that this one was in the bag.

I think most people would now be of The Mag editor mindset, with a goal advantage against ten men enough of a killer given the gap between the teams that we should now be thinking about the goal difference. It didn’t quite play out like this, as Ipswich dug in and made us work for the killer second.

A lot of positive interplay on the right hand side had been thwarted by Ipswich’s desperate defence, but neat interplay with Murphy, allowed Trippier to drift in a perfect cross for Burn to head in at the back post.

This game was enjoyable overall, but it wasn’t my favourite Burn header from a Trippier assist I’ve seen this season…

We then saw a situation that has become familiar lately, as substitutions with promise seem to disrupt the flow of the game a bit. This time we saw a pay off-though, and the rarity of a direct goal from a corner as Trippier’s delivery was met with an excellent header by Will Osula for his first Premier League goal. Osula celebrated extensively and I got a slight sinking feeling as Ipswich players surrounded the ref, who seemed to be in conversation with the VAR. It would have been too cruel for Osula to have had it chalked off but I’ve watched the replays back and I can’t see what Ipswich were so up a height about. Assume their player falling over was the issue but they should have been embarrassed Osula won the ball against about four of them, as opposed to outraged.

With goal difference tight and potentially a factor given how close things are, I would have liked United to have pushed for a couple more, but this 3-0 on the heels of the comfortable wins against Man Utd and Palace is far from cause for complaint.

Hopefully a steady eight day rest will allow full focus to overcome our Brighton blind spot, before another full week until what could be a key showdown with Chelsea next time at St James’ Park.

For the visitors, relegation was confirmed, an effect that has become something of a habit for us after Sheffield United and Burnley both suffered this fate after defeats against United in recent years. Hopefully, this is also an indication of the direction of travel, as I believe today to have been a Premier League first. Never before have Newcastle taken maximum points from the relegated trio, with this seasons 18 point haul hopefully an indication of United discovering the knack of seeing off lesser sides, as opposed to an indictment of the state of the current round of demotees. We seem to have cracked winning against the lower-rated sides and being competitive against the top sides. If we can just fix those problems around the middle, next season could be a very exciting one indeed.

But we’re not there yet. This win was essential to keep the kettle boiling on the CL qualification that would hands down seal the best season any of us have ever seen and provide a hugely positive outlook for the summer.

We go into this week third and looking hopeful, with Botman’s welcome return as a late sub a real eleventh hour boost. We absolutely mustn’t grumble, especially in the face of our visitors taking their own tribulations in such fine spirit. Ipswich came in great numbers, stayed with their team throughout and of course played their part in the usual recognition of Sir Bobby Robson that is always a welcome part of this fixture.

It’s gonna be a tense few weeks but job done today. Also fab to see Eddie back in the dug out. We’ll need his presence as it has been brought to my attention that Mad Dog contrived to get himself suspended for next week. We keep going…

Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0 – Saturday 26 April 2025 3pm

Newcastle United:

Isak 45+4, Burn 56, Osula 80

Ipswich

Johnson red card 37

Possession was Newcastle 78% Ipswich 22%

Total shots were Newcastle 25 Ipswich 4

Shots on target were Newcastle 5 Ipswich 0

Corners were Newcastle 11 Ipswich 2

Touches in the box Newcastle 66 Ipswich 6

Newcastle team v Ipswich:

Pope, Trippier, Schar (Botman 83), Burn, Livramento, Willock (Miley 67), Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Wilson 77), Isak (Osula 77), Murphy (Gordon 67)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Ruddy, Krafth, Longstaff

You can follow the author on BlueSky @bigjimwinsalot.bsky.social

(Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)