Source: Northern_Echo
Ipswich Town 0 Newcastle United 4
Ipswich Town 0 Newcastle United 4[LNB] ROY KEANE was as surprised as everyone else inside Portman Road when Kevin Nolan scored the first three-goal haul of his Newcastle United career. Dont know if he has scored many hat-tricks, but I bet he thought it was Christmas, said the Irishman, referring to Ipswichs awful defending.[LNB] The truth, though, is that Nolan was equally astonished by his achievements in front of goal in Suffolk.[LNB] If scoring his first after half an hour was celebrated, his second two minutes later took him by surprise. To add a third just five minutes after half-time completely stunned him.[LNB] Its the first time I have had the matchball in my professional career, said Nolan, born in Liverpool and a regular for the citys schoolboys team. The last time I scored a hat-trick was in a school final when I was 15. I didnt get the matchball then but Ive still got the shirt.[LNB] Ive scored a few braces in my time but when the third one went in it was like its happened!. Ive got the ball for my daughter Jasmine. I am absolutely delighted.[LNB] During ten years at Bolton he scored 40 times. When he arrived in January in a £4m deal, Newcastle supporters expected goals, but they dried up.[LNB] He went through the final five months of last season failing to add to the one goal he scored for the Trotters, while Saturdays haul doubled this terms tally to six.[LNB] The last couple of seasons I have been struggling with injuries but since I have got to Newcastle, they have looked after me and thats been a big plus, said Nolan. The last six months have been the first time I have trained every day for a long time.[LNB] It has been really good. I have really enjoyed training every day and that is why I am starting to produce on the pitch. Long may it continue.[LNB] Nolans renaissance is typical of the transformation across the Newcastle squad since relegation was confirmed at Villa Park in May.[LNB] When the 27-year-old arrived he labelled it a dream move and never envisaged he would end up in the Championship.[LNB] But, like so many of his team-mates, Nolan has looked a different prospect from the one who suffered the ignominy of dropping out of the Premier League.[LNB] Not only does he look slimmer, he is also starting to resemble the player who once attracted interest from top four clubs.[LNB] Since I arrived, I have enjoyed every minute. Dont get me wrong, the last day of the season was the worst time of my life. But the next day, I went for a pint with my dad and it was like I cant wait to get back, said Nolan.[LNB] We have worked together as one. It is only a start. We are only nine games in. There is a long, long, way to go but it is the start we wanted. All the teams which have gone down have done well. We had a blip but we bounced back.[LNB] After losing their unbeaten start to the season at Blackpool almost a fortnight ago, Newcastle have responded by defeating both Plymouth and Ipswich in the league.[LNB] Victory at Portman Road always looked likely once the pre-match tributes to Sir Bobby Robson had been made and Nile Ranger had forced Richard Wright into a low save inside four minutes.[LNB] Once Nolan directed Ryan Taylors free-kick into Wrights top left corner with a powerful header there was no stopping the Magpies.[LNB] Ipswich were awful. Their defending was atrocious; worse, if that was possible, than they were at Middlesbrough two weeks ago.[LNB] Nolan made the most of that by turning defender Pim Balkestein inside out with a casual drag back before rolling his finish underneath the Ipswich goalkeeper.[LNB] Wright, a former England keeper, then moved off his line to allow Taylor to curl in a 30-yard free-kick over him into the net to leave Ipswich three down in four quick-fire minutes.[LNB] Inbetween angry chants directed towards Mike Ashley, there were favourable songs sung about Hughton, which were further justified when Nolan added his third five minutes after the break.[LNB] A bursting run from Zurab Khizanishvili led to Taylor centering deep into the Ipswich box. Ranger rose to nod goalwards and Nolan arrived to crash his sides fourth beyond a hapless Wright.[LNB] Keane, who knows Hughton from their Ireland days, is convinced Newcastle are heading for the top flight again.[LNB] I cant comment on other clubs, but when you talk about the long term I bet Big Sam (Allardyce) thought he had the long term there to work towards and he didnt get it, said Keane.[LNB] Chris will probably end up being there the longest of them all. He should just enjoy it. He has focused on the job, they have started well, and they have a great chance.[LNB] Newcastles victory put them two points clear of West Brom and four clear of thirdplaced Preston, while Ipswich remain rooted to second from bottom.[LNB] And the former Sunderland boss, who delivered promotion to Wearside in his first season in charge, said: We cant compare where we are to where Sunderland were when I took over. Its like chalk and cheese. What I did get was a bit of luck up there, maybe I was very, very lucky and Im being found out.[LNB] If Keane has been found out, Hughton certainly hasnt.[LNB]
