'Sir Bobby Robson Day' defeat for Newcastle United at Ipswich

Ipswich served up their best performance of the season on Sir Bobby Robson Day, beating promotion hopefuls Newcastle 3-1 at Portman Road.

Freddie Sears, David McGoldrick and Emyr Huws ensured Ipswich sealed back-to-back wins for the first time this season in front of their biggest crowd of the campaign against a team who looked anything like a Premier League side in waiting.

Former Ipswich favourite Daryl Murphy replied for Rafael Benitez's well-beaten team in this Sky Bet Championship contest.

The Suffolk side designated Monday to be Sir Bobby Robson Day - he managed both clubs.

Ipswich always had more appetite for the fight and had the ball in the net inthe 13th minute via Tom Lawrence's free-kick - but McGoldrick was adjudged to have hauled down Isaac Hayden.

Minutes later, Sears was sent clear by a brilliant through-ball by Huws and, after he bundled past a posse of Newcastle defenders, away goalkeeper Karl Darlow just got to the ball ahead of McGoldrick.

The closest Newcastle came in the opening 20 minutes was via the left boot of full-back Paul Dummett, who whistled a 25-yard shot wide of the far post.

The promotion hopefuls came even closer in the 37th minute when Jonjo Shelvey let fly from 20 yards after Huws had headed clear - but the midfielder's volley was well held by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Newcastle should have taken the lead when Dummett's dangerous cross was met by a diving header from Matt Ritchie - but he headed wide with the goal gaping.

Ritchie was made to pay when he was dispossessed by Myles Kenlock, allowing Lawrence to burst into the box and tee up Sears to fire the game's opening goal beyond Darlow.

Ipswich were close to doubling their lead just two minutes later when another fantastic break ended with Sears crossing and McGoldrick seeing a goalbound shot deflected over by DeAndre Yedlin.

The visitors created the first chances in the second half, with Ritchie's header blocked by Kenlock and Lawrence firing a 20-yard free-kick over the bar.

However, Newcastle grabbed an equaliser in the 62nd minute through Murphy, who tapped home Christian Atsu's dangerous low cross.

Ipswich regained the lead seven minutes later when a fine flowing moving involving Lawrence and Grant Ward ended with Sears crossing low and beyond Darlow for McGoldrick to tap into the unguarded net at the far post.

McGoldrick went tantalisingly close to making it 3-1 in the 85th minute when his cross-cum-shot was tipped over by the alert Darlow - but the excellent home side were not to be denied.

Sub Brett Pitman found space down the right and his cross was expertly volleyed home by Huws in stoppage-time.