Newcastle's youngsters, aiming to extend their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions, fell behind in the closing stages of the first-half following Fin Barbrook's composed finish at Portman Road.

Walker Shabazz-Edwards was sent off for Ipswich before the hour mark, after receiving two yellow cards, but the young Magpies were unable to make their advantage pay against the league leaders, despite Kacey Wooster hitting the woodwork in stoppage-time.

Adam Lawrence made two changes from Monday's 2-0 away win against Crystal Palace as Scottish defender Charlie McArthur, a representative of his country at under-21 level, and teenage goalkeeper James Taylor replaced Alex Murphy and Max Thompson respectively.

Taylor produced the opening save of the league encounter as the Kettering-born teenager saved Josh Pitts' low drive from the edge of the penalty area, getting down low to comfortably hold the attempt on goal.

Leo Shahar, who has represented England at under-19 level, went close to opening the scoring for the young Magpies as the promising right-back's free-kick from distance deflected narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Newcastle were fortunate to remain on level terms towards the half-hour mark as Seung-soo Park's wayward pass across his own box fell into Luca Fletcher's path but the Town striker scuffed a first-time effort wide of the left-hand post.

Taylor denied Tudor Mendel shortly after as the Ipswich winger dangerously cut inside from the right flank but despite his effort at goal taking a deflection, the Magpies shot-stopper was on hand to collect the ball.

The United 'keeper was forced into further action, crucially holding Barbrook's firm drive inside a crowded penalty area before producing a double stop minutes later, parrying Ryan Carr's powerful strike from the edge of the box before reacting quickly to turn Luca Fletcher's close-range rebound out for a corner.

In the 41st minute, though, Ipswich took the lead through Barbrook as the Town midfielder latched onto Fletcher's inviting pass inside the box before slotting a clinical first-time effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

In the second-half, Brayson went close to equalising for the visitors as the 18-year-old striker, on target in Monday's 2-0 league win at Crystal Palace, collected Alfie Harrison's pass inside the box and despite skipping inside, saw his shot parried by Town goalkeeper Woody Williamson before the ball was cleared from the box.

The game took a dramatic twist as Ipswich were reduced to ten men as Shabazz-Edwards received a second yellow card after bringing down Sean Neave, following a surging run from distance by the Winlaton-born forward.

Harrison, who joined the Magpies from Manchester City in February 2024, was unfortunate not to level in terrific fashion as the Keighley-born youngster's delightful curling effort from the edge of the box, following Anthony Munda's neat lay-off, forced Williamson into tipping the ball over his own bar.

Ipswich, however, still continued to cause a threat in attack as Barbrook ought to have doubled Ipswich's advantage after arriving, unmarked, into the box from Barrett's teasing delivery but failed to make firm contact with the ball as his attempt bounced over the crossbar.

Taylor produced a splendid save to deny Barbrook in the closing stages as the Ipswich midfielder controlled Josh Lewis' pass inside the box before his drilled attempt was blocked for a corner by the 19-year-old 'keeper.

With seven minutes of stoppage-time, Newcastle went agonisingly close to equalising in the final stages as Wooster, introduced from the substitutes' bench, raced onto Harrison's pass before slamming a fierce effort from a tight angle onto the right-hand post.

Harrison was presented with a golden opportunity in the dying seconds of the contest after connecting with Neave's cutback from the byline but his goalbound header was inadvertently blocked by Wooster inside the six-yard area.

Newcastle United: James Taylor, Leo Shahar, Charlie McArthur, Cathal Heffernan (c), Miodrag Pivaš, Scott Bailey (Kacey Wooster 80), Alfie Harrison, Anthony Munda, Joe Brayson, Sean Neave, Seung-soo Park.

Subs not used: Ciaran Thompson, Adam Harrison, Thomas Bryant, Dylan Charlton.