Newcastle United 3 Ipswich Town 0 | OneFootball

Alexander Isak's penalty on the stroke of half-time sent the hosts ahead following a frantic first-half, which saw Ipswich defender Ben Johnson sent off after picking up two yellow cards.

Dan Burn's second-half header doubled the hosts' advantage before William Osula netted his first Premier League goal in the closing stages as Eddie Howe's side moved into third place of the English top-flight, with the Tractor Boys subsequently relegated to the Championship.

Howe, returning to the dugout after missing the last three league fixtures following his diagnosis with pneumonia, made one change from the Magpies' 4-1 away defeat at Aston Villa as Joe Willock replaced Joelinton, who was sidelined due to a knee injury, while Sven Botman was named in a matchday squad for the first time since February following a knee injury.

The Magpies led inside 26 seconds during the reverse fixture at Portman Road, a 4-0 triumph in December, but survived an early attack from the Blues as Jack Clarke intercepted Burn's pass before the former Sunderland winger's stabbed effort at goal was deflected out for a corner by Fabian Schär.

Bruno Guimarães, making his 150th appearance for the Magpies, looked to have opened the scoring after a high ball inadvertently struck the Brazilian's body from close-range before landing in the net but the United captain was adjudged to have initially fouled Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer on the goal line.

Isak, who netted a hat-trick in December's 4-0 win against Ipswich, went close to netting his 26th goal of the season in all competitions on two occasions as the Swedish frontman's header from Harvey Barnes' lofted pass flew wide of the target before later volleying over from Jacob Murphy's cross towards the back post.

Ipswich were reduced to ten men before half-time as Ben Johnson received two yellow cards in quick succession, with the Blues full-back booked for simulation before receiving his marching orders by referee Michael Salisbury after holding back Isak, who had cleverly advanced beyond the Town defender on the left wing.

Newcastle continued their push for an opener as Dara O'Shea diverted Murphy's inviting low cross away from the six-yard area before Guimarães' acrobatic volley inside the six-yard area shortly after was impressively nodded off the line by Ipswich defender Luke Woolfenden.

With the half-time whistle approaching, Sandro Tonali went agonisingly close to netting a third goal in his last four games at St. James' Park as the Italian midfielder's fierce drive from the edge of the box cannoned off the crossbar.

Newcastle finally broke Ipswich's resistance in the final minutes of the first-half as Isak netted from the penalty spot. After Murphy was brought down by Julio Enciso, Salisbury awarded the spot-kick following a lengthy VAR check before Isak confidently stroked the ball beyond Palmer from 12 yards.

Harvey Barnes was unable to net a fifth goal in as many Premier League matches shortly after the restart as, despite controlling Tonali's forward pass, the in-form winger directed an effort from the edge of the box over the crossbar.

In the 56th minute, Newcastle extended their lead through Burn's first Premier League goal of the 2024/25 campaign. Following a short corner, the ball worked its way to Kieran Trippier before the right-back's floated cross from the right flank was met by Burn at the back post, who rose high to nod the ball home from close-range.

Osula made a quick impact from the substitutes' bench after netting his first ever Premier League goal in the 80th minute as the Denmark Under-21 international rose high from Trippier's corner before guiding his header into the right-hand corner in front of a delighted Gallowgate End.

Newcastle were able to see the game out with ease, recording a fourth clean sheet in their last seven league matches, while Botman also made a welcomed return from a knee injury in the latter stages of the contest.