Town’s relegation from the Premier League after only one season was finally confirmed after the 10-man Blues were beaten 3-0 by Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Town will have been pleased with their performance until Ben Johnson became the fifth Blues player to see red this season on 37 for two bookable offences - the first highly controversial - before Alexander Isak gave the Magpies the lead from the spot in first-half injury time, then Dan Burn added a second 11 minutes after the restart and Will Osula added the third on 80.

Injury and suspension-hit Town made four changes from last week’s 4-0 loss at home to Arsenal with Liam Delap, Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess and Jack Taylor returning to the XI.

Woolfenden came in at right centre-half with Dara O’Shea moving to right-back with Axel Tuanzebe absent, presumably due to a knock.

Burgess was back at left centre-half with Jacob Greaves moving to left-back with Newcastle-born boyhood Magpies fan Leif Davis suspended following his red card last week.

Taylor was in midfield alongside skipper Sam Morsy with Jens Cajuste dropping to the bench, again probably due to a minor injury.

Delap, a sub for the last two matches due to a rib injury, returned as the central striker with George Hirst dropping to the bench.

While 10 were missing due to injury or suspension, Omari Hutchinson was back on the bench following his hamstring injury. Youngsters Somto Boniface and Tommy Taylor were also among the subs.

Newcastle made one change from the team which started the previous seven games with Joelinton having picked up an injury and Joe Willock coming into the team. Former Town academy youngster Nick Pope was in goal.

Town started brightly and were the first to take a shot at goal, former Sunderland man Jack Clarke picking up a loose Burn pass and then hitting a shot which deflected wide for a corner. From the flag-kick, the ball reached Delap beyond the far post but his strike was blocked.

But the home side quickly began to take control and dominate possession with Burgess and Greaves both heading away crosses into the box.

On 10, Jacob Murphy sent a dangerous low ball across the edge of the six-yard area but fortunately for Town with no one on hand to add the final touch.

Three minutes later, Fabian Schar failed to clear having dispossessed Julio Enciso and Delap seized upon it and hit a low which which deflected behind.

In the 18th minute, Delap picked up an overhit Newcastle corner in the right-back position and drove forward leaving Burn behind him but his pass to the unmarked Enciso breaking down the middle was too far in front of the Paraguayan and home keeper Pope was able to claim. A better ball and the on-loan Brighton man would have been in on goal.

Four minutes later, the Magpies had the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out. O’Shea headed a cross from the right straight up in the air, keeper Alex Palmer looked to punch but was bundled over by Bruno Guimaraes as the Magpies skipper headed into the net. Referee Michael Salisbury immediately blew for a foul on the keeper and VAR upheld the decision, much to the annoyance of the home fans.

On 28, there was a VAR check after a clash between Morsy and Willock, the Newcastle man having had a pop at the Town skipper earlier in the half. On this occasion, Morsy had pulled the ex-Arsenal man over and was the subject of the check, but no action was taken.

On the half hour, Johnson was shown the game’s first yellow card after breaking towards the area past one defender before being felled by Burn’s outstretched leg just outside the box. However, referee Salisbury inexplicably judged that Johnson had dived and booked him. Two minutes later, Enciso shot over from well out on the right.

Newcastle created their first big chance of the game in the 35th minute. Murphy floated a cross into the box and Isak, who bagged a hat-trick in the game at Portman Road, heading over when the Sweden international will feel he should have done better.

Within seconds, Isak had another opportunity, another cross from the right reaching him but this time he scuffed his volley wide.

Two minutes later, Town were reduced to 10 men. Johnson, already on a yellow card following the controversial dive decision, hauled back Isak on the Newcastle left. It was a clear booking and following the earlier decision referee Salisbury issued Town’s fifth red card of the season and Johnson’s first of his career.

While the second caution was difficult to contest, the first was as poor as the one issued to Tuanzebe at Aston Villa earlier in the season and for a second time this season, Town were made to pay for what seems to be an anomaly of VAR that yellow cards which lead to red cards aren’t checked while all straight dismissals are.

Newcastle sought to turn the screw following the dismissal but with Town remaining resolute in defence. On 40, Clarke was sacrificed for Ben Godfrey, making his first Blues appearance in more than two months.

The Town goal began to lead a charmed life, O’Shea somehow diverting a low Murphy cross from the right away from the line and out for a corner off Palmer.

On 42, Woolfenden somehow kept out Guimaraes’s overhead kick, the Town centre-half diverting it over for a corner.

Burn and Delap repeatedly clashed holding up the restart and eventually referee Salisbury booked both of them. The pair subsequently ended up on the turf again after the corner was taken but no further action was taken.

As the half moved into its scheduled final minute, Isak scuffed another shot away, the ball falling to Murphy, whose shot struck Palmer’s post with the keeper perhaps getting a touch on its way.

Seconds later, the home side were awarded a penalty. Enciso pulled at Murphy as the ex-Norwich youngster burst past him into the area. Initially, referee Salisbury waved away the protests but after a VAR check took a second look and pointed to the spot.

Isak confidently beat Palmer from the spot to claim his fourth goal against Town this season.

There was no further action in a half which had been going as well as might have been hoped for Town until Johnson’s red card, or perhaps the former West Ham man’s first wrongly awarded first yellow card.

The Blues had defended steadfastly at one end, while creating one or two openings at the other.

However, the red card saw the home side put Town under more pressure with chances coming more frequently before Enciso gave the referee and VAR a decision to make with his pull, even if the contact almost certainly had nothing to do with Murphy going to ground.

The second half began with Newcastle renewing their siege of the Blues penalty area, Sandro Tonali blazing over three minutes after the restart. Within a minute, Harvey Barnes shot not too far over Palmer’s cross-bar from 25 yards.

Willock sent a dangerous ball across the Town area which no one was able to reach, then on 55 Isak hit a shot which deflected wide.

And from the resultant corner, the Magpies doubled their lead. The ball was played short to Kieran Trippier on the right, the England international stood up a cross to the far post and Burn headed into the net from on the line.

Murphy shot wide on 62, before Newcastle assistant boss Jason Tindall was booked for speaking out of turn, then Greaves joined him for a foul on Murphy.

Newcastle continued to put the Blues under pressure, presumably seeing an opportunity to boost their goal difference, Woolfenden nodding off the line from Willock before a bout of head tennis in the six-yard box was ultimately ended by a raised linesman’s flag.

The Magpies swapped Willock for Lewis Miley and Murphy for Anthony Gordon on 67 with Barnes moving to the right flank.

On 70, VAR looked at Barnes playing the ball against Greaves in the area but ultimately opted against awarding a spot-kick for handball.

A minute later, Schar shot well wide and moments afterwards Enciso and Delap made way for Conor Chaplin and George Hirst.

Newcastle maintained their dominance but with the game having lost its intensity and on 76 Isak and Barnes were rested for Callum Wilson and Osula.

And four minutes after coming on, Osula made it 3-0 with his first Premier League goal. The Dane rose highest to nod Trippier’s corner from the right into the top corner beyond Palmer’s left hand.

Newcastle replaced Schar with Sven Botman on 83, then Town switched Taylor for Massimo Luongo three minutes later, before Guimaraes shot over on the volley on the turn at the far post from a cross from the left.

As the game moved into its final minute, Palmer saved from Gordon, then in the first of five additional minutes Osula shot just past the Town keeper’s left post.

The Blues support well away in the upper reaches of St James’ Park made themselves heard as the final moments of the game and Town’s stay in the Premier League ticked away, singing ‘Ipswich ’til we die’ and ‘Que Sera’.

And it was the Blues fans singing at the whistle despite the defeat and it now being mathematically impossible for their team to stay up. The players and staff went over and applauded their supporters from the edge of the penalty area.

While the defeat officially confirms that Town will be playing Championship football next season, the writing has been written very clearly on the wall for some weeks now, perhaps as long ago as the home defeat to Southampton with the recent home loss to Wolves, for much of the season the side 17th, cementing that situation.

In truth, such has been Wolves’ form since the start of February - second in the division only to leaders Liverpool - it would have taken a remarkable run for the Blues to have got themselves out of trouble.

This afternoon’s defeat was one of a familiar type with Town having battled gamely to stay in the game before conceding and spending the rest of the match defending their own penalty area to keep the score down, unsurprisingly on this occasion given the first-half red card and an injury and suspension-hit squad.

But it’s not the defeats to Arsenal last week or Newcastle this which have led to the Blues’ relegation but the failure to turn winning positions against some of the division’s more run of the mill sides into three points, particularly at home, although even those run of the mill sides are streets better than the teams Town were competing with at the top of the Championship last season and where they will feel they will be strong contenders in 2025/26.

Four more games remain before Town’s first Premier League campaign in 22 years is brought to a close - the earliest all three promoted s with a last ever visit to Everton’s Goodison Park up next.

Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Schar (Botman 83), Burn, Livramento, Guimaraes (c), Tonali, Willock (Miley 67), Murphy (Gordon 67), Barnes (Wilson 77(, Isak (Osula 77). Unused: Dubravka, Ruddy, Krafth, Longstaff.

Town: Palmer, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Burgess, Greaves, Morsy (c), J Taylor (Luongo 86), Johnson, Enciso (Chaplin 72), Clarke (Godfrey 40), Delap (Hirst 72). Unused: Walton, Boniface, Cajuste, Hutchinson, T Taylor. Referee: Michael Salisbury (Preston). VAR: Jeremy Simpson. Att: 52,171.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

ipswichultra added 17:45 - Apr 26 If Kieran McKenna moves on, there’s no better man to steady the ship than Mick McCarthy. He knows Ipswich inside out — the club, the fans, the pride that comes with wearing the badge. When Mick was here last time, he took a team in trouble and made us competitive again, built on hard work, resilience, and unity. In a moment of change, we’d need someone who can command instant respect, someone who won’t be overwhelmed by the pressure — and that’s exactly what Mick brings. He’s proven at this level and beyond, and crucially, he understands the heartbeat of Ipswich Town. No experiments, no big egos — just a manager who knows how to dig in, rebuild, and give us something to believe in again. Mick’s the safe hands and the strong heart we’d need to move forward.

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ipswichultra added 17:45 - Apr 26 If Kieran McKenna moves on, there’s no better man to steady the ship than Mick McCarthy. He knows Ipswich inside out — the club, the fans, the pride that comes with wearing the badge. When Mick was here last time, he took a team in trouble and made us competitive again, built on hard work, resilience, and unity. In a moment of change, we’d need someone who can command instant respect, someone who won’t be overwhelmed by the pressure — and that’s exactly what Mick brings. He’s proven at this level and beyond, and crucially, he understands the heartbeat of Ipswich Town. No experiments, no big egos — just a manager who knows how to dig in, rebuild, and give us something to believe in again. Mick’s the safe hands and the strong heart we’d need to move forward.

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jayceee added 17:57 - Apr 26 It's been a sad day @ipswichultra, so thanks for a bit of humour to lighten it a bit.
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ImAbeliever added 18:00 - Apr 26 Ipswichultra, I believe you’re having a laugh, right?
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bluebullet29l added 18:01 - Apr 26 Another load of garbage with no shots on target...that's two games on the trot...surely another record for km?...but I'm sure the happy clappers will be happy being served up this dross week in week out. Let's get this season over and start the clear out. Mid table championship at best next season.
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jayceee added 18:03 - Apr 26 You really don't belong here, @bluebullet29l
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muhrensleftfoot added 18:03 - Apr 26 Naively I thought we’d do OK this season. OK I wasn’t expecting Europe but maybe 15th. The gap proved to be too much. Nevertheless I do think we disappointed. Many of the new signings didn’t seem to improve us. That combined with injuries to key players and what did seem to be bias towards the established teams has done for us. I really think and hope we’ll come back stronger next time. No hiding place for Kieran as this time we will be expecting promotion.

4

blueboy1981 added 18:05 - Apr 26 Well ! - let’s see how good McKenna is once again at Championship Level - he’d now be a Huge Gamble for any Premiership Club - as he’s successfully proved this season. Stock devaluation season for sure, for him ! But people don’t like TRUTH on here - preferring to be deluded, and excuse makers for failure !
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Expatractor added 18:07 - Apr 26 Unfortunately we have gone from band of brothers to band of others. Great credit to Kieran for what he has done for the club. Smiles back despite relegation. I think next season will be tougher than some imagine.
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SpiritOfJohn added 18:10 - Apr 26 The Premier League is fuelled by greed, infected by VAR, marred by predictable results and aided and abetted by biased refereeing. We'll be busting a gut to get back there next season.
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Leejames99 added 18:15 - Apr 26 Shambles, wasted 130 mill because he never played hardly any of them! Lets see now the cult comments. Stretch to far Up too soon Fine Margins Decisions against us Muric fault Bad signings It wont be but should be Manager out of depth Players out of depth Too much tinkering New signings not played Can't close games Wouldn't drop Davis Wouldn't change system Couldn't motivate players to win at home Worst record in club history with more on the way The list is endless as will the excuses be. The only players who have made the step up Woolfenden Burgess Broadhead Shpuld keep in the squad as well as above Chaplin Hirst H Clarke Humphries Tunazabe Muric if retiring in 2026 New manager and big clear out needed now. How funny we defend so well when down to 10 men or Davis isn't playing. The club has a good bunch of signings but Mckenna won't play them, left Cajuste on bench and bought on Luongo says it all. He has been putting players on bench who are injured obviously. Ashton and board have huge meeting ahead, Ashton will know we have been appalling and have backed the manager with signings he played out of position. They deserve a good send off at West Ham game and hopefully new gaffer be watching from stands. Get Dyche in, brilliant man manager but can also give the hairdryer. We get one go go to go back up and it's not with Mckenna and co . We need to throw sink at Cajuste to stay and not spend too much so we have more if we go up. We need a new left back so go and get Cresswell or Chilwell to cover Townsend Need a good midfielder so go and get Finn Azaz or Jobe Bellingham or both with Humphries and an experienced mid Whoever goes down get their striker Callum Robinson, Adebayo or Haj Wright or Parrott or Scarlett Get business done early, really early, we down now, we know who isnt going up from Championship, we know who is out of contract in Prem so no excuses. We have Muric who should be given a chance in pre season his stats when Burnley went up are brilliant, he made mistakes but he is young and right now he ours There is no reason why our defence could not stay as it was today, Greaves was brilliant today all four of them were. Our squad in Aug has to look something like Muric/Palmer/Slicker or New Tunazabe/H Clarke/ Johnson O'Shea/Burgess Greaves/Woolfenden Townsend/New LB Morsy/Cajuste/New mid Humphries/New mid Hutch/Phillogene/Ogbene Szmodics/Chaplin J Clarke/Broadhead Hirst/New striker That's 26 but 1 or 2 of those might go Cajuste, Tunazabe No point spending money if dont need to that is alot of goals there. Let's see who doesn't like that squad because Davis, Burns, Walton, Taylor, Luongo not in it, Mckenna won't and that's why it's time for him to go with thanks, with right manager we would storm Prem with that squad but need it to gelled and ready for prem with player for player rotation. Dyche please he best available, good age. COYB The next stage starts.

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TimmyH added 18:18 - Apr 26 ipswichultra - no one will take the bait, so obvious you're fishing for a silly debate. Well next season will be interesting for different reasons...far more pressure on McK (If he's still here) to get us promoted. The Championship will be unforgiving in bogging sides down with physical, slower play and scruffy goals - I've seen enough of EFL highlights to prove this point, we were riding a wave of optimism in 2023/24 not the case now.

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Expatractor added 18:24 - Apr 26 Kalvin Phillips must be the biggest disappointment of the season. What a waste of talent.
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Broadbent23 added 18:24 - Apr 26 Outclassed today, but we will be back with a stronger side. Newcastle have champions league aspirations whereas we have to regroup. Creditable first half but sending off once again broke the team. We just have to enjoy the last four games and try new formations ready for next season. Once again away support was good.
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terryf added 18:25 - Apr 26 Maybe we did rise too quickly in successive seasons but I still believed we would do a lot better than we have done. Most Teams have been more streetwise and we have struggled to score goals and keep clean sheets and sadly lessons have not been learnt all season. Recruitment with the odd exception has only really been top end championship players, so hopefully if we have aspirations of rejoining the elite again after next season we will be better equipped in that Department. Other Teams now well established in the Premiership have done it. Being relegated and then being promoted again so why not us? Can't say I've enjoyed this season which has been disjointed and underwhelming. Will welcome more matches and competitive games in the Championship and of no ruddy VAR to spoil the excitement. Football is about the excitement of the moment not having to wait 5 minutes before a decision is made!

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jayceee added 18:44 - Apr 26 @Leejames99 I'm sure you often make valid points, but I usually skip past, because they drip with contempt for a team you supposedly support. I didn't see any lack of effort from our owners, management or our team this season - that's good enough for me. So while it's ok to discuss what went wrong or what we need to do better, it just seems all too juvenile to continually do it with insults and a lack of respect for progress made and it makes you come across as someone seeking attention, just for the sake of it. Try being less unlikable in you contribution, is what I mean.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:44 - Apr 26 Blueboy I've told u so many times. Your opinion isn't fact or the truth . It's your opinion , nothing more , and fortunately not one shared by the majority. Just look at the reaction of the supporters that are in the stadium at each game .Elizabeth, spot on , good post.
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Magic8 added 18:47 - Apr 26 We don't need McCarthy or Sean Dyche..the answer is right here ...leejames99..I mean he clearly knows what's needed.. he keeps telling us so he ..must be right.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:47 - Apr 26 LeeJames - I do honestly wonder if you post your comments to get a reaction. Surely you can't believe the stuff you write .
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bressinghamblue added 18:52 - Apr 26 We'll come back stronger. Who knows, if we finish third-bottom, the FA might do the right thing and relegated Man City for their 100+ breaches of FFP! I'd have preferred that we stayed up in merit, but if that happens, it'd still be a cause for celebration.
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pinewood added 18:57 - Apr 26 Anyway it was inevitable , what ever happened today , fantastic support as always , well done lads and lasses. silly red cards whether you believe there has been bias against us . But one good thing about being relegated is no VAR and the glory hunting supporters will disappear off into their caves like in the bad old days .
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VanDusen added 19:02 - Apr 26 Well - it's over. And thank goodness for that. Another good reason for why we're well put of this corrupt nonsense for those of us who prefer fair football. That said full marks to Newcastle for being easily the best atmosphere and friendliest fans all season. Good for them. As for the ref. I'll leave it to the new chant "Premier League. Corrupt as #&@£". Let's get a big banner in the North Stand for West Ham as a goodbye!!

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Gforce added 19:15 - Apr 26 @JRF.........A nice touch and lovely comments, thankyou. Hope we can play you again soon ,hopefully August 26 !
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Writtleblue added 19:22 - Apr 26 Thank you toon fan for your kind words.
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Leejames99 added 19:23 - Apr 26 @jaycee I'm not bothered what anyone says i support the club, Ashton and the owners been amazing ive never questioned that, nor have I ever disrespected the progress made by kmk and players who got promotions that will always be part of club history but that's what it is history. And my opinion based on this season alone is Keiron Mckenna is a long way off being a Prem manager and alot of our players are not of Premiership standard, hence we are relegated and it was nothing to do with bad signings, we will be thankful those signings were made in forthcoming season, it was Keiron Mckenna, its only some fans on here have rated the season he had, and rather than write a decent football related post like the one you just wrote, its usually abusive names or we are delluded etc I am afraid its not me who is deluded I am a realist, we are relegated, we have signed players that in their right positions with some of the old guard and some additions could become an amazing team but Mckenna is not that man, he is no different to Russell Martin, Danny Cowley etc too woke and soft and artogane and won't deviate from their ideas. We are too easy to play against, he has split the team, the defenders all arguing with Palmer etc Im watching Wrexham now, the passion to get the job done, an old school manager and great owners we could be all that but we need a change in my opinion now. @everyone I do not agree that Mckenna is the man to take us any further and the league 1 lads (most not all) found there level. I understand some don't like change and genuinely believe we will go straight back up but I don't think we will UNLESS we make some changes, that's it in a nutshell So no need to mob on people who disagree, no need for sarcastic posts, name calling, homophones slurs, foul language, and referring to people's mental health because they have a different opinion to yours on the future of the club we all support. It's the club I support players and managers come and go but we all remain so if you don't like my posts, block them, don't read them, or do and mark down if you disagree or comment with your educated responses on what players you want to see next year, who you dont, how you think Mckenna can possibly get is back up next season with his system and players. What teams you think we will be able to get above next year? We will very likely come second bottom and we haven't beaten any teams we could of or should of. The owners and Sheeran and Ashton have a vision and i think Mckenna and alot of players have taken us as far as their ability can and now we need a manager and talent required to take us to where we all want and could be.

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