Alexander Isak bags Newcastle United's first hat-trick in five years as Ipswich put to the sword

Newcastle United continued their run of form with another win and another glut of goals down at Portman Road as they beat Ipswich Town 4-0.

It was a Jacob Murphy masterclass with the winger bagging a goal and two assists, the first assist coming after just 26 seconds with Alexander Isak volleying home.

It took a three-minute VAR check to verify the goal should stand, but it was eventually awarded and Newcastle were on their way.

Newcastle fans had to wait another half an hour for the next goal but it was worth it as Jacob Murphy smashed the ball into the net via the crossbar on 32 minutes.

Jacob Murphy supplied the assist of the season for Isak's third goal

Ipswich must have been feeling the festive spirit as they gifted Newcastle a third goal in first-half stoppage time. Trying to play out from the back via the goalkeeper, Bruno Guimaraes reacted like a cat startled by a cucumber and managed to knock the ball loose to Alexander Isak who composed himself before tucking the ball away for his second of the game.

However, the best was saved for the second half on 54 minutes when Jacob Murphy showed some stunning close control inside the box, surrounded by blue shirts before he backheeled the ball into the path of Isak who took a touch and then poked it home.

That was of course Isak's first hat-trick for Newcastle, and Newcastle's first hat-trick by any player since Ayoze Perez against Southampton in 2019.

Newcastle took their foot off the accelerator in the second half

Once the fourth had gone in, Eddie Howe made three substitutions in one go and then used his other two as the game went on. The changes took all the momentum out of the game, but it didn't matter.

However, Dan Burn had the ball in the back of the net right before the final whistle but despite his jubilant celebrations and the fact that we're a couple of days away from Christmas, VAR spoilt the mood by ruling the goal out for offside.

Jacob Murphy stole the show on a day when Alexander Isak bagged a hat-trick, but for all the grief we've given Murphy, we have to give credit where it's due, he was simply phenomenal today.