3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0 | OneFootball

Saturday afternoon’s match ended Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0.

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

An interesting afternoon at St James’ Park…

Plenty to talk about after this one.

On this occasion it is David Punton:

POSITIVES

Must win win

It was imperative that Newcastle United took three points against a doomed Ipswich Town side.

Sometimes it creates more pressure when a game is expected to be a cake walk, but we got the job done, bouncing back from the disappointment at Villa Park.

It’s a massive three points to keep us in the hunt for a place in next season’s Champions League.

To be third in the league with four games to go, and with a first domestic trophy for 70 years in the cabinet, is pretty amazing.

It was a win that came about with 78% possession of the ball. That’s the highest by any team in any PL match this season.

Impressive stuff indeed.

Just what the doctor ordered

It was brilliant to see Eddie Howe back at work and back in the dugout to lead the team.

Whether or not Howe maybe ideally needed a bit longer away after his bout of pneumonia we’ll never know, but he has returned.

He looked a bit pale, dare I say, but clearly well enough to oversee training and then mastermind the win from his technical area.

When he was missing it was a reminder of just how important he actually is to the cause.

Dutch master’s back

Vital minutes for Sven Botman on Saturday.

It’s great to see him and let’s hope his injury problems are behind him now.

He’s such a great defender – so to have him back for this final run in is great news and it might help to get us over the line.

NEGATIVES

Knee bother

There was bad news when the team sheet came out – no Joelinton.

It subsequently emerged he has an issue with his knee and needs to see a specialist.

That’s a worry. You can’t help but fear that’s his season over. He will be a big miss if that does end up being the case, albeit a chance for others to stake their claim.

The man in the middle on Saturday was Lancashire’s Michael Salisbury.

He had a poor game did Mr Salisbury.

He seemed to lose control for periods and the Bruno goal that was ruled out was a farce.

Mad Dog’s yellow peril

It was Jason Tindall’s third booking of the season, so he’s banned from the technical area down at Brighton next weekend.

It’s not ideal to have him absent, especially against the Seagulls, who have become something of a bogey side for us.

It’s a massive game too.

Tindall and Howe are a partnership, but we’ll just have to muddle through again, no doubt Howe will be ably supported by Graeme Jones.

Newcastle 3 Ipswich 0 – Saturday 26 April 2025 3pm

Goals:

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

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