Newcastle United suffered their fourth defeat in 10 Premier League games with a 3-1 loss away to strugglers West Ham United.
West Ham started the day 19th in the table and the Magpies threatened to pile the misery on the home side when Jacob Murphy opened the scoring in the fourth minute.
But that was as good as it got from a Newcastle perspective. Lucas Paqueta’s strike and own goal from Sven Botman put the Hammers 2-1 up at half-time before seeing the second-half out comfortably.
Howe made six changes from the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup, with Emil Krafth, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Sandro Tonali and Nick Woltemade retaining their places.
Krafth stayed at right-back with Kieran Trippier missing through illness. Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon were recalled to the starting line-up.
There were just four minutes on the clock when Murphy fired the Magpies in front. Jarrod Bowen rattled the post for the Hammers and the visitors immediately countered, with Guimaraes finding Murphy for his second Premier League goal in as many games.
Shortly after, West Ham were awarded a penalty when Bowen went down under a challenge from Malick Thiaw. But replays showed Thiaw got a touch on the ball, which saw referee Robert Jones overturn his decision after reviewing the incident at the VAR pitchside monitor.
The Hammers were the better side from then on and deservedly level in the 35th when Lucas Paqueta was given room to shoot, with his sneaking past Nick Pope’s far post.
The turnaround was then complete on the brink of half-time when Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s low cross was slide into his own net by Botman. Freddie Potts was denied a third by the offside flag but Tomas Soucek wasn’t to be denied in stoppage time to make it 3-1.
Here are our Newcastle United player ratings from the defeat at the London Stadium:
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1. Nick Pope - 5
More punches than catches and that put Newcastle under pressure. Disappointed at letting Lucas Paqueta’s shot past him but in fairness, the Brazilian was given all the time in the world to shoot. | AFP via Getty Images
2. Emil Krafth - 5
A first Premier League start in over a year. Couldn’t provide the attacking threat the absent Kieran Trippier is capable of. Withdrawn at half-time. | AFP via Getty Images
3. Malick Thiaw - 6
Can’t do wrong at the minute. Thought he conceded a penalty but replays showed the German got a vital touch on the ball. One of few players to turn up. | AFP via Getty Images
4. Sven Botman - 4
Lacked his usual composure. In the spirit of Halloween, that own goal was a real horror film. | AFP via Getty Images