Ipswich relegated from Premier League after defeat to Newcastle

Ipswich Town have been relegated from the Premier League after a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle United, with Eddie Howe’s side keeping their Champions League hopes alive.

Ipswich needed to win and hope for a West Ham loss at Brighton to preserve their slim survival chances. But their hopes faded quickly when Ben Johnson was sent off in the 37th minute for two bookings in quick succession.

Newcastle took control before halftime when Alexander Isak scored a penalty after Jacob Murphy was fouled by Julio Enciso during stoppage time. Dan Burn’s 56th-minute header doubled the advantage before William Osula’s 80th-minute strike sealed Ipswich’s fate.

Third-bottom Ipswich are now 15 points behind fourth-bottom West Ham with just four games left, confirming their immediate return to the Championship after only one season in the Premier League, their first top-flight campaign in 22 years.

Ipswich’s relegation, alongside those of Southampton and Leicester City, means all three promoted sides have been relegated, a first in Premier League history with as many as four games remaining.

Despite their fairytale rise through League One and the Championship under 38-year-old manager Kieran McKenna, Ipswich struggled to adapt to the Premier League’s demands.

The Tractor Boys won just four of their 34 league matches and remained stuck in the relegation zone for much of the season, despite flashes of brilliance from striker Liam Delap.

A disastrous defeat against bottom club Southampton in February was a key moment that foreshadowed their fall. Even after securing their first win of the season in November, a 2-1 win over Tottenham, Ipswich never truly found consistent form.

McKenna, who gained recognition for his attacking philosophy and achievements in the lower leagues, had already acknowledged Ipswich’s inevitable fate before the trip to Tyneside.

Anthony Nlebem

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.