Ipswich Town were relegated from the Premier League after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday.
In a performance symbolic of their troubled season, Kieran McKenna’s side were reduced to 10 men when Ben Johnson was sent off after two quick bookings in the 37th minute at St. James’ Park.
Alexander Isak put Newcastle ahead with a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Jacob Murphy was fouled by Julio Enciso.
Dan Burn doubled the Magpies’ lead with a header in the 56th minute, before William Osula struck the third goal 10 minutes from time, sealing Ipswich’s fate.
Ipswich, sitting third-bottom, are now 15 points adrift of fourth-bottom West Ham with only four matches remaining, confirming an immediate return to the Championship after just one season back in the top flight.
Despite the romance of their back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship, Ipswich struggled at Premier League level, winning only four of their 34 matches.
Their relegation, alongside that of Southampton and Leicester City, means all three promoted clubs will go straight back down — a first in Premier League history with as many as four games still to play.
McKenna, 38, earned widespread praise for his attack-minded approach that fuelled Ipswich’s remarkable rise since his appointment in 2021.
However, early-season defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City proved a harsh introduction to life in the top division.
It took Ipswich until November to register their first league win — a 2-1 victory at Tottenham — but they remained mired in the relegation zone despite Liam Delap’s bright performances.
A damaging loss to bottom-club Southampton in February foreshadowed their eventual collapse.
McKenna had already acknowledged the slim chances of survival before Saturday’s trip to Tyneside made relegation mathematically certain.
He will now hope the club’s hierarchy entrusts him with leading another promotion campaign next season.
