BLUES boss Jim Magilton lamented the poor goals conceded but praised his team's performance after his side missed the chance to go up to fourth in the Championship.

Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town boss Roy Keane admitted that his team were "dead and buried" after Newcastle plundered three quickfire goals in a 4-0 drubbing at Portman Road.

Town had no answer to a hat-trick from Kevin Nolan, and a spectacular free-kick from Ryan Taylor, as the winless run was extended to a record-breaking nine games.

"Talk about making it hard for ourselves!" reflected Keane ruefully.

"It was poor defending. We gave away some bad, bad goals. Conceding those three goals in the first half meant that the game was dead and buried, especially with Newcastle playing as well as they are, and not conceding many goals.

"I doubt whether their lad Nolan will ever have scored an easier hat-trick in his career.

"He had a free header for the first goal. He must have thought that it was Christmas," added Keane.

Newcastle caretaker boss Chris Houghton explained: "We knew that Ipswich had not had the best of starts to the season, but we still knew it would be hard.

"The good start really lifted us, and when I saw Ryan Taylor's goal (from the free-kick for the third) go in, I realised it was going to be our day."