Newcastle United v Ipswich Town

[Ragatino]

Team news
Newcastle United welcome back head coach Eddie Howe, who has missed the last three fixtures with pneumonia.

Fabian Schar will be monitored after being substituted against Aston Villa because of a hamstring issue, while this game is likely to come too soon for Sven Botman.

Lewis Hall and Jamaal Lascelles are long-term absentees.

Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis begins a three-game ban and with fellow left-back Conor Townsend injured, centre-back Jacob Greaves may switch position to deputise.

The Blues could be without 10 players through injury or suspension, while top scorer Liam Delap has not been fit enough to start the past two matches because of a rib problem.

The Suffolk side will be relegated if they fail to win at St James' Park, or if West Ham United avoid defeat against Brighton.

Match facts
Head-to-head

Ipswich's last top-flight win at St James' Park was a 1-0 victory on 25 February 1978. Clive Woods scored for the Blues, then managed by Bobby Robson.

The Magpies won 4-0 at Portman Road in December and are vying to complete a first league double against the Tractor Boys since 1973-74.

Newcastle United

Defeat at Aston Villa ended Newcastle's run of six consecutive wins in all competitions.

The Magpies have won each of their last four home league games, their longest such sequence since a seven-match streak between September and December 2023.

Newcastle have conceded from the first shot they faced in 10 Premier League games this term (excluding own goals), the second highest figure on record by any side in a single season.

They are one of five teams to score at least 60 Premier League goals in 2024-25 but have had just nine different goalscorers (excluding own goals), compared to a league-high 20 scorers last term.

Alexander Isak has netted 15 goals in 14 Premier League appearances against newly promoted sides, including a hat-trick against Ipswich in this season's reverse fixture.

Jacob Murphy has been directly involved in six goals in his last five top-flight matches, scoring three and assisting three.

Ipswich Town

If the Blues go down on Saturday it will be the first time in Premier League history that all the relegation places have been settled with at least four games remaining.

Ipswich have failed to keep a clean sheet in all 14 of their league fixtures this calendar year, conceding 38 goals and claiming six points from a possible 42 (W1, D3, L10).

Town's last top-flight shut-out came in a 2-0 win against Chelsea on 30 December.

They have earned two-thirds of their Premier League points away from home this season (14 of 21). The only club to end a campaign with a proportion that high is Crystal Palace in 1997-98, who won 22 of their 33 points on the road (also equivalent to two-thirds).

Kieran McKenna's men have dropped a league-high 27 points from winning positions this term, and have come from behind to claim just three points (all in draws).

Liam Delap has 12 Premier League goals this season. The only other players to hit 12 or more for a newly promoted side while aged 22 or younger are Alan Shearer for Blackburn in 1992-93, Andrew Cole for Newcastle in 1993-94 and Yakubu for Portsmouth in 2003-04.

[Ragatino]

Lewis Jones (who is the Sky Sports expert behind the ‘Jones Knows’ column) has highlighted some major underlying factors that could / should have a big bearing on this Newcastle v Ipswich game.

“Ipswich’s relegation will be confirmed if they fail to win or West Ham avoid defeat.

“One of the key issues Kieran McKenna has faced has been his inability to name a settled side – he’s made 94 changes to his starting line-ups this season, and only Manchester City have made more.

“An issue for him this weekend is at left-back where Conor Townsend is injured and Leif Davis is suspended.

“Jacob Murphy will be licking his lips playing against whoever the makeshift full-back is.

“Murphy is enjoying the best season of his Premier League career, registering 17 goal involvements in his last 19 league appearances. He is 15/8 with Sky Bet to register an assist.

“Prediction: Newcastle 3 Ipswich 1”

Interesting analysis, as always, from the Sky Sports expert.

Ipswich totally demoralised and with at least 10 players missing today, including their first and second choice left-backs.

The visitors have lost 10 of their last 13 Premier League matches and won only one.

Every win has to be fought for in the Premier League but this is one that United should be winning.

Jacob Murphy is having an excellent season, as the Sky Sports expert points out, especially when creating and scoring goals.

As the Sky Sports man says, 17 direct goal involvements in Murphy’s last 17 PL matches, those include scoring one and getting a superb assist in the win at Ipswich.

United were 4-0 up after 54 minutes in that victory and coasted the rest of the match.

With GD (Goal Difference) looking so potentially important in this race for Champions League places, hopefully Newcastle can get early goals to calm any nerves and then they will go right to the final whistle in order to ensure maximum GD improvement. NUFC currently same GD as Chelsea, four better off than Forest, five behind Man City.

[MidsMagpie]

Only 1 forced change Willock for Joelinton, would have liked to see Trippier benched and Tino put back at RB and Targett LB and Gordon in for Murphy after last saturday but hey ho.

[Zippity]

Trippier is a way better option-on several different levels -than Targett, imo.

[MidsMagpie]

Cant believe Ruddy is on the bench again why not Vlachodimos or is the childish behavior regarding his transfer still going on ? better still put a kid on the bench 2 sub keepers is crazy.

[MidsMagpie]

Trippier is a way better option-on several different levels -than Targett, imo.

He was shocking last saturday and Tino is just wasted at LB play him in his preferred position and get the best out of him.

[toptoon]

Whats wrong with Joelinton?

[MidsMagpie]

Whats wrong with Joelinton?

Knee injury

[toptoon]

Knee injury

Sh*t.

[coastferret]

anyone got a stream