An Ayoze double’s just tops for Rafa!
NEWCASTLE went three points clear at the top of the Championship after an emphatic 3-0 win in front of almost 52,000 fans.
Two goals from Ayoze Perez and one from Matt Ritchie gave Rafael Benitez’s side their fifth consecutive league win and saw them open a gap at the top of the table after Norwich lost to Preston.
The Spaniard said: “It’s another good win because it’s not easy to win in this competition.
“We played really well in the first half, we had chances and could have scored more goals but we didn’t do it so we had to work hard in the second half.”
The Magpies flew out of the traps and were ahead within a minute.
Mick McCarthy’s men had not even touched the ball when Perez fired a low volley past Bartosz Bialkowski after Dwight Gayle had flicked on a Paul Dummett cross.
It should have been two with seven minutes on the clock when DeAndre Yedlin’s cross found Gayle in the box, but the in-form striker hit his shot into the ground and the ball bounced over the bar.
The hosts were almost brought back down to earth when Leon Best turned and fired against the bar.
Adam Webster then provided another warning that the visitors were still in it when he ran the length of the pitch unchallenged and fired just wide of the post.
After the break, Bialkowski made a strong save to deny Yoan Gouffran before Ipswich replied with an effort from David McGoldrick that was saved by Karl Darlow.
As the game wore on Newcastle began to turn the screw and finally got a second in the 73rd minute.
Matt Ritchie sent a superb cross into the box and Perez finished with a lovely controlled volley for his second of the game.
The former Tenerife man then turned provider for Newcastle’s third five minutes later when he teed up Ritchie inside the area.
McCarthy said: “We were beaten by the champions. If you see a better team than that I’d be surprised.”