TOONED TO PERFECTION

Howe's well-oiled machine on fast track to Champions League

- BY IAN MURTAGH

NO ONE goes through the gears quite like Newcastle.

Eddie Howe's (below) side have the capacity to move from first to fifth in a matter of moments and invariably it's enough to blow away opponents.

This ultimately comfortable win which confirmed Ipswich's relegation, was the perfect example of why the Magpies are in the driving seat for Champions League qualification.

For more than half an hour, Newcastle were stuck in neutral as the visitors' game plan denied them space and opportunities.

Then they cranked it up, applying increasing pressure on the Ipswich defence before, inevitably, their resistance was broken. On this occasion, Newcastle did require some assistance from referee Michael Salisbury, who lost control of the game early on.