Newcastle thump sorry Ipswich

Shearer celebrates his 100th Newcastle goal

Newcastle 4-1 Ipswich
E-mail your reaction to Football Talk

Newcastle cruised into the quarter-finals of the Worthington Cup with a comprehensive thrashing of sorry Ipswich.

Two goals from Alan Shearer, the 99th and 100th of his Newcastle career, plus strikes from Laurent Robert and Shola Ameobi, put Bobby Robson's men four up at half-time.

Bobby Robson's men were dominant throughout against his former club and spent most of the game on cruise control.

  Key moments

17 mins: 1-0 Robert scores through Sereni's legs from Solano's through-ball

25 mins: 2-0 Ameobi finishes a fine move with a sidefoot

36 mins: 3-0 Shearer puts away Solano's cross

39 mins: 4-0 Solano repeats the trick and Shearer makes it four

76 mins: 4-1 Debutant Darren Bent pokes past onrushing Harper

17-year-old Darren Bent's late strike was scant consolation for the Premiership's bottom side.

With Man United and Liverpool already out, Newcastle will fancy their chances of making the final at the very least.

Ipswich only looked like holding their own when they switched to three centre-backs and two wing-backs at half-time.

Until that point they were toothless in attack, slack in midfield and disorganised at the back.

Clean through

Jermaine Wright actually had the first chance, planting his header from Clapham's cross straight at Harper.

It was a very, very good first half performance and Ipswich couldn't live with us

Alan Shearer

But it was the home side who broke the deadlock.

Matt Holland uncharacteristically gave the ball away in midfield and Solano ran on to put Robert clean through.

The Frenchman took one touch and drilled the ball through Sereni's legs.

Ipswich had the chance to strike back, but Alun Armstrong completely missed a lofted pass just eight yards out.

Ameobi was impressive throughout

Minutes later Newcastle went further ahead.

This time it was Clapham who played the ball carelessly out of defence.

Speed danced past Wright and fed Solano, who slipped the ball wide to Shearer.

The former England captain knocked a first-time cross goal and Ameobi side-footed through the goalkeeper's legs once again.

Worse was to come for the Tractor Boys. Solano again was the instigator, breaking down the right and curling in a delightful cross which Shearer crashed home.

The pair repeated the trick three minutes later to give Shearer his milestone.

---

Newcastle: Harper, Hughes, Elliott, Dabizas, Distin, Solano, Lee, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi. Subs: Given, O'Brien, Acuna, Bassedas, Lua-Lua.

Ipswich: Sereni, Wilnis, Makin, McGreal, Hreidarsson, Clapham, Holland, Tommy Miller, Wright, Counago, Armstrong. Subs: Branagan, Naylor, Croft, Darren Bent, Gaardsoe.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).

  Key moments

17 mins: 1-0 Robert scores through Sereni's legs from Solano's through-ball

25 mins: 2-0Ameobi finishes a fine move with a sidefoot

36 mins: 3-0 Shearer puts away Solano's cross

39 mins:4-0 Solano repeats the trick and Shearer makes it four

76 mins: 4-1 Debutant Darren Bent pokes past onrushing Harper