Eddie Howe must resist Newcastle United temptation at Crystal Palace with one change planned

Eddie Howe is on a mission for consistency - both in performances and results - after Monday night's setback at home to an opponent many believed Newcastle United would beat. While there may be temptation to chop and change, there's a strong argument for minimal changes ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park.

Despite the unfavourable result against West Ham United, there may only be one, enforced, change to the Magpies' starting lineup at Selhurst Park this weekend. Dan Burn returning for Lloyd Kelly could well be the only rotation we see from Howe after he praised his side for the majority of their performance in the recent 2-0 defeat.

Couple that with the performances of Howe's substitutes last time out, that case is strengthened. Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali, Jacob Murphy, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier were thrown on in the second period as Newcastle chased the game as it ran away from them but none of the quintet covered themselves in glory during their second-half cameos.

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Rewind to the build up of the West Ham clash and it is easy to forget Howe's side - the one he picked at St James' Park this week - had began to find their rhythm and balance, and a bit of form, after three wins on the spin before the international break. That made the Newcastle boss' decision easier for him as he left the five aforementioned players on the bench as club football returned.

On another evening, that decision would have paid off. Alexander Isak could have helped himself to a brace, Anthony Gordon missed a guilt-edged chance early on and Lewis Hall flashed two attempts wide of the target each side of the half-time interval. Newcastle looked in control for the first 55 minutes before the second goal of the evening, Aaron Wan-Bissaka's finish across Nick Pope, killed the encounter as a contest.

"I thought it was a disjointed last half an hour," Howe said on Friday morning. "The first 60 minutes were pretty good. I had no complaints with the performance but with the chances we didn't take and the goals we conceded in the last half an hour weren't great."

A back five of Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Lewis Hall has looked the perfect formula so far this term, with Lloyd Kelly failing to cover himself in glory for both West Ham's goals earlier in the week. Tonali continues to miss out in the middle but if Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock overcome their respective fitness issues in time for the weekend's trip down south, it's hard to make a case for either dropping out of the side.

Isak and Anthony Gordon's places in the team are assured and, despite Howe believing Joelinton can play in any outfield position at present, the Brazilian is likely to get the nod on one of the flanks.

"I think with Joey, he's very keen to do what's best for the team," Howe said of Joelinton. "I think I have to look at it on a game by game basis and see whether we feel we need him for this particular game. He's got qualities in every position.

"I love him in midfield and I love him wide as well but we will continue to utilise him in different positions as long as they're not to a detriment of his overall performance."

There will be a major temptation to see Howe make changes in light of such a poor defeat in recent days but the Newcastle boss would be wise to give his current favourites a chance to right the wrongs of West Ham, while welcoming an in-form Burn back in from the outset this weekend.