Ipswich Town were relegated from the Premier League on Saturday, April 26, following a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The loss sealed their fate, as the club now sits 15 points adrift of 17th-place West Ham with only four matches remaining in the season, ensuring their return to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.
Ipswich’s struggles were compounded by a red card for Ben Johnson in the 37th minute, after two quick bookings, leaving Kieran McKenna’s side with a numerical disadvantage for much of the match. The game turned in Newcastle’s favor when Alexander Isak converted a penalty in stoppage time after Jacob Murphy was fouled by Julio Enciso. In the second half, Dan Burn’s header in the 56th minute doubled Newcastle’s lead, and William Osula added a third in the 80th minute, leaving Ipswich with little hope of a recovery.
The loss confirmed Ipswich’s relegation alongside Southampton and Leicester City, marking the first time in Premier League history that all three relegation spots were confirmed with as many as four games remaining. Ipswich, who were promoted to the Premier League after back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship, had only managed to win four of their 34 league games this season.
Their journey to the top flight had been a fairytale story, capturing the hearts of football fans with their rise under McKenna’s leadership. The 38-year-old coach had earned praise for his attacking style, which saw Ipswich surge up the divisions after his appointment in 2021. However, McKenna was unable to preserve the club’s top-flight status, as defeats to heavyweights like Liverpool and Manchester City in the early part of the season exposed the gap between Ipswich and the Premier League elite.
Ipswich’s first league victory did not come until November, when they triumphed 2-1 over Tottenham to end a 10-game winless streak. Despite the form of striker Liam Delap, the club remained trapped in the relegation zone for most of the season. A crushing loss to bottom-of-the-table Southampton in February was seen as a harbinger of Ipswich’s eventual downfall.
With their relegation now confirmed, McKenna, who had already accepted the club’s fate before the trip to Newcastle, will now focus on leading Ipswich’s promotion bid for next season. The Northern Irishman will hope the club maintains faith in him as they look to bounce back from their disappointing top-flight campaign.