Former Arsenal and England midfielder Paul Merson feels Steve Bruce's decision not to change things in midfield cost Newcastle dearly on Saturday.
Merson was working as a pundit on the Magpies' 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday as Patrick van Aanholt's first-half free-kick condemned Bruce's side to a second successive defeat.
Newcastle stuck with their familiar 5-2-2-1 formation at Selhurst Park with Sean Longstaff and Nabil Bentaleb starting together in central midfield.
Palace played the trio of Cheikhou Kouyate, James McCarthy and James McCarthur in midfield and Merson believes they overran the Newcastle duo in the middle of the park.
When asked on Gillette Soccer Saturday whether Newcastle set out with a negative approach, Merson replied: "No, not really.
"They played Joelinton, Almiron, Saint-Maximin and they were lively up front.
"But the two in midfield just got overrun. They played Longstaff and Bentaleb in midfield against the three of Palace and they just got overrun.
"I thought Steve Bruce should have changed it quicker and the keeper kept them in the game if I'm being honest.
"Saint-Maximin was the only one who was really a threat. It was a bad day at the office. They probably played worse than they did at Arsenal."
