Ayoze Perez scored twice and Matt Ritchie once as Newcastle United comfortably beat Town 3-0 at St James’ Park. Perez put the home side in front in the opening minute and added the second on 73, before Ritchie netted the third five minutes later. The Blues went closest to scoring when former Magpie Leon Best hit the bar in the first half.

Town made three changes to the team which beat Burton 2-0 on Tuesday with Jonathan Douglas, Conor Grant and Grant Ward coming into the side for Cole Skuse, who missed out with the toe injury which forced him off against the Brewers, and Kevin Bru and Teddy Bishop, who dropped to the bench.

Ward joined Douglas and Grant in central midfield with Tom Lawrence on the right and Sears on the left and Best the main striker.

David McGoldrick, back after the ankle injury he suffered in August, and Jonny Williams were both included among the substitutes.

Championship leaders Newcastle made three changes from the team which won 2-0 at Barnsley on Tuesday with DeAndre Yedlin, Ayoze Perez and former Town loanee Jack Colback coming into the side for Vurnon Anita, Mohamed Diame and Isaac Hayden.

The game got off to the worst possible start for the Blues with the home side going in front inside the opening minute.

Paul Dummett was found on the left by a raking Jonjo Shelvey pass and the Wales international whipped over a cross which Yoan Gouffran flicked on to Perez, who was breaking in unmarked at the far post from where he volleyed a low shot past Bartosz Bialkowski, who was yet to touch the ball.

Newcastle passed the ball around confidently in the minutes immediately after the goal with the Blues rarely touching the ball but the Magpies didn’t create another opportunity until the eighth minute when Yedlin cut the ball back from the left but Dwight Gayle shot over.

The Blues, who had switched Ward to wide right and Lawrence to the left with Sears moving behind Best, almost got back on terms with their first shot of the game in the ninth minute.

Following a corner the ball fell to Best, who hit a shot on the turn from inside the box which crashed against the crossbar with home keeper Karl Darlow well beaten.

But Newcastle were still on top and on 13 Matt Ritchie curled an effort not too far wide, the ball catching a Town defender on its way wide. From the corner, Gouffran shot well over.

After both sets of fans had joined in chants of ‘There’s only one Bobby Robson’, Ritchie went close again in the 19th minute. After the former Bournemouth winger’s initial pass had been blocked by Christophe Berra, the ball rebounded back to him and his low shot deflected wide.

The impressive hosts were starting to create opportunities with concerning regularity and a minute later Gayle saw his low cross from the right bundled behind from the right.

On 26 Adam Webster intercepted a Newcastle pass on the edge of the Blues box following a throw on their right and brought the ball well into the Magpies half riding a cynical Shelvey challenge on his way.

The former Portsmouth man looked for options either side of him but eventually opted to curl a 20-yard shot, which flew not too far wide of Darlow’s right post.

Shelvey was lucky to avoid a booking for his attempted challenge but a minute later referee James Adcock showed Colback the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Sears.

Newcastle claimed a penalty in the 35th minute when Gayle was played in one-on-one with Bialkowski and crashed to the ground as the Polish keeper dived at his feet. The former Crystal Palace man was convinced the referee should have pointed to the spot, while Bialkowski was similarly adamant he had got the ball.

As the half moved into its final five scheduled minutes Knudsen was booked for a foul on Yedlin as the US international broke quickly down the right. A minute later, Ritchie shot well wide from distance.

Skipper Luke Chambers headed over from a Lawrence near-post corner on 44, then moments before the whistle Best required treatment for what appeared to be a dislocated finger.

The Blues will probably have been pleased to have gone in only a single goal down at the break, the home side having dominated the half.

Conceding in the opening minute was the worst possible start for Town with manager Mick McCarthy having noted Newcastle’s tendency to start games brightly in his pre-match press conference.

The Magpies, who passed the ball around slickly and at pace when in the final third, had created plenty of opportunities and will they will feel they should have hit the target more regularly.

But they were well in control with Town struggling to get hold of the ball and only really threatened when Best hit the bar and Webster made his run forward.

McCarthy made two half-time changes with McGoldrick replacing Best, probably due to injury, and Josh Emmanuel taking over from Knudsen, the Dane perhaps also having taken a knock.

The Blues began the half seeing much more of the ball than they had during long spells of the first period and on 57 Chambers fed Ward, who sent over a cross towards McGoldrick but too close to Darlow, who claimed.

Newcastle had their first chance of the second half in the 64th minute when Ritchie volleyed wide from Dummett’s left-wing cross.

A minute later, Gouffran hit a shot from the edge of the box which Bialkowski batted away.

While the early stages of the second half were more even than the first had been, the hosts began to find their feet and were looking the more likely scorers.

And in the 74th minute they doubled their lead. After a long spell of passing, Ritchie crossed low from the right and an untracked Perez slammed a low shot past Bialkowski to claim his second goal of the game. A minute later, Christian Atsu took over from Gouffran.

As the clock moved past the 76-minute mark both sets of fans started chanting ‘There’s only one Bobby Robson’ and applauding the clubs’ legendary manager.

Soon after, Chambers crossed from the Town right to Douglas, who headed down and into the arms of Darlow.

On 78 any lingering doubts there might have been regarding the result were put to bed when Perez teed-up Ritchie on the edge of the box and the Scotland international powerfully smashed home to make it 3-0.

Newcastle switched Gayle for Mitrovic and then Shelvey for Isaac Hayden before, with seven minutes remaining, the Blues introduced Williams for Sears.

McGoldrick shot over from distance on 86, then a minute later Dummett was booked for a foul on Ward.

There were no further scares for the Blues and referee Adcock’s whistle confirmed what was a routine win for the home side.

Having gone behind in the opening minute, it was always going to be tough for the Blues, who battled gamely in their usual manner, but only seriously looked like getting back on terms when Best hit the bar and Webster made his run forward.

However, plenty of teams will visit St James’ Park with a similar result with the Magpies already looking champions in waiting.

Town drop to 17th in the table ahead of next week’s home game against Rotherham, who are now six points from safety at the bottom of the division.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen (Emmanuel 46), Douglas, Grant, Ward, Lawrence, Sears (Williams 83), Best (McGoldrick 46). Unused: Gerken, Bishop, Digby, Bru.

Newcastle: Darlow, Clark, Dummett, Colback, Lascelles (c), Gayle (Mitrovic 79), Ritchie, Shelvey (Hayden 83), Perez, Gouffran (Atsu 75), Yedlin. Unused: Anita, Diame, Mbemba, Sels. Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire). Att: 51,963 (Town: 2,700-ish).

Photo: Action Images

Lower_North added 22:07 - Oct 22 'I won't be taking any risks' pre match comment Thank god for that or we might have lost it 3-2..
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algarvefan added 23:35 - Oct 22 I'm just sat here reading and wondering if Mick is solely to blame for the current team. Yes I know we will always disagree on team selection and tactics, that's what pubs are for, however I still have a smidge of sympathy for Mick as the support he has received from the owner and the club has been piss poor. The man is doing the best with what he has, we don't have Newcastle's millions and a top coach, but we are where we are. You either suppor tthe club or you walk away...... I'm still in there, just, there is still time to turn things around in a topsy turvy league.

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Millsey added 23:42 - Oct 22 F k you lot can moan
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Carberry added 23:52 - Oct 22 Game lost from minute 1 because the only alternative to Plan A is sadly Plan A. Taken apart by a very good side who made our defenders look like strangers for each goal. We had that flash at goal that hit the bar but otherwise no threat, which made it a stroll for Newcastle. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that Douglas just can't run? He is not an athlete or sadly, these days, a Championship footballer.

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Surco72 added 23:54 - Oct 22 Algarve fan...do you honestly think hand on heart MM is doing the best he can with what he has ? Josh should not have been dropped last week Chambo at fault for goals today . Knudsen is not good enough but Kenlock not given a chance, Bishop should not have been dropped today for Douglas who has played poorly for over a whole season now , Sears scored on Tuesday so again gets played out of position , Williams gets no game time at all to actually make an impact but then we are told he is not match fit . He persists with Douglas and Skuse when it has never worked . Name a player who looks better after joining us than when he hadn't been coached by Mm and Tc nd I could name more that have worsened . The club is stale for what ever reason and the chairman will not leave and we cannot afford to change him so MM must go , Warnock has half the points we have nearly in only three games

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midastouch added 00:56 - Oct 23 Message for Mick MuGarthy. There are smaller teams in this league with less resources still playing football and better off for it, as well as with more points and certainly more goals on the board. Of course losing to Newcastle is no disgrace. But the negative manner you set us up is a disgrace. Why do we have to park the bus here there and everywhere!!?? Other smaller teams in this league are not being so negative and doing a lot better than us so on that basis alone, how can anybody possibly justify the continual OTT negative defensive boredom? I'm not having a dig at the team as they can only go out and play as well as they are given licence, and admittedly it was a big ask to day for us to get even a point. However, other teams like Huddersfield went to Newcastle with a far more positive approach and look what they managed to do. They didn't just say, their budget is so much higher than ours, so let's go there and park the bus and try and keep it from being a cricket score. If you go away with that attitude you deserve exactly what you set out to get, SWEET FA!!!

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essexbluey added 02:05 - Oct 23 I went to newcastle today for my love of ITFC got back to southend at 11, As i said i love ITFC but i hate what mick and evans are doing to OUR club. The once GREAT ITFC is now a massive tax break for the owner and a hide out for ex players who could not wait to get away to other clubs.
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tractorboybig added 07:38 - Oct 23 bonkers league mick, your now closer to a relegation spot than the play offs. we going for a 0-0 against Rotherham?????
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BrettenhamBlue added 07:49 - Oct 23 Men against Boys, seriously outgunned and outplayed. Who else are Champions Mick? Norwich, Huddersfield, Newscastle? Are you going to talk up Rotherham next? Anything except 3 points against Rotherham is unacceptable. As algarvefan has stated- It isn't all Mick's fault due to lack of support. But the football makes staring at my fingernail clipping interesting and we should have a right back and a replacement for Murph. Not on. My nephews won't go to the games anymore and the last time I saw them they said they were thinking of switching allegiance to Norwich "as they play expansive, entertaining football etc etc etc". It hurt me to my core. My sister argued that it's not doing their self-esteem any good supporting a team like Ipswich. Absolutely gutted what is happening to our club. Young football fans have much less loyalty these days and we are losing the next generation of fans in droves.

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grumpyoldman added 08:40 - Oct 23 Millsey, yes we moan a lot with good reason, are you up to a challenge? To quote Ian Drury and the Blockheads, reasons to be cheerful 1 2 3! Over to you!
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sereneblue added 08:57 - Oct 23 Please go.
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Elizabeth added 09:10 - Oct 23 I've had a fabulous weekend in Newcastle apart from the ninety plus minutes at St James' Park !! We continued with hoof ball for 82 mins THEN when Jonny Williams came on we started to play the ball on the deck ? Unbelievable!! I'm fed up with moaning about the midfield but this is clearly where our problem is !!
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Cakeman added 09:12 - Oct 23 Predictable result but that is not the issue for me. Some have said us supporters should not moan so much or be negative. Fully respect everyone's choice but what are we actually supporting? As I see it McCarthy has for at least the past eighteen months set his teams up with the sole aim of damage limitation. He would be happy with 46 nil nil results and that is why I am far from happy and will moan a lot more than I did before. Sadly McCarthy will consider our season a success if we survive in the Championship. Then we will face yet another boring season. I am not usually a negative chap but I am really struggling to see any light at the end of the tunnel.

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Paddy39 added 10:08 - Oct 23 Cakeman the only light at the end of the tunnel is the 17.10 from Liverpool St. We all expected to come away from St Jame's Park with nothing. Does anybody think MM played some lesser players so protect Bish and some of our other quality players for the lesser teams we will be playing, hopefully keeping them free from injury and helping us to three points. IMO if we don't find a striker and (start playing Freddie down the middle) using the quality midfield players we have whose backsides seem to only warm the bench because Lionel Douglas Messi is automatically the first name on the team sheet then I'm sorry to say roll on Div 1 and the Johnstons Paint Trophy and crowds of less than 10,000 a season. Oh happy days!!!!

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grumpyoldman added 11:12 - Oct 23 Is MM a secret agent for NCFC, whose mission is to ruin the good name of this club, his means are to sign players not up to the job (Douglas), use only one tactic, hoofball, players players out of position, treat supporters with disdain and give us little hope of watching exciting free flowing football. Please nobody reply saying he saved us from relegation, Winston Churchill helped save this country in World War 2, but was voted out because he was not thought capable of running the country in peacetime. As for limited funds look at other clubs with lesser budgets playing attractive football and succeeding, Project Fear didn't work for the referendum so shouldn't be allowed to work here!

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Lightningboy added 11:16 - Oct 23 We are going nowhere under McCarthy. He over-achieved 2 seasons ago thanks to Murph's 27 goals & has now taken us as far as he can. Our club will not move forwards with this backwards-thinking manager at the helm. When will our owner & board realise this?
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jjhbruno added 11:18 - Oct 23 Shouldnt terrific, different class players be able to beat a very good side like Newcastle?
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runningout added 13:09 - Oct 23 Winnable game thrown away..
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heathen66 added 14:15 - Oct 23 I do not believe that the issue is solely a midfield issue. I do not believe Mick really trusts his defence. This is why the wide players play so deep (almost secondary full backs) and the we employ the two central pedestrians to protect. We have capable players here at the club such as Webster, Kenlock Dozzell, Morris, McLaughlin and Emmanuel who need to be given a chance on their own merits, and not because there is an injury crisis. The U23s played with 2 up top and Didz just behind, which promotes link up play rather than hoof ball. Unfortunately that means not playing 8 outfield players with defence on their minds

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Mick_Mills_Tache added 15:20 - Oct 23 Even Facebook pages not linked to Ipswich can see just how much of a different class 'Douggie' is...
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midastouch added 15:53 - Oct 23 Mick_Mills_Tache Great find there mate. It's clear to see (as that FB video encapsulates perfectly), his legs have totally gone!!! 99% of us can see it, so why the hell can't Mick!!?? GET RID DOUGIE!!!
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runningout added 15:57 - Oct 23 hope no one was silly enough to get over excited after our recent 2 nil win :-)
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midastouch added 15:58 - Oct 23 Side passers send me to sleep, but at least most of them have a good engine to compensate for their limited technique, but this one hasn't even got that, so what on offer does he contribute to our greater good? GET RID DOUGIE!!!
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midastouch added 16:01 - Oct 23 He's like Geraint Williams (side passing linchpin!) but on tranquillisers!
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runningout added 16:09 - Oct 23 wish I could be encouraged by return of McGoldDick and Williams.. Whole squad need to realise they are supposed to be professional footballers.. Read the blooming game. It's not always the manager and coaches issue
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