Issa Diop opened the scoring in the first half and substitute Tom Cairney added a second with ten minutes remaining as Newcastle were comfortably beaten in west London. The result left Howe's side four points outside the bottom half and 12th in the final table, their worst finish since the 2021-22 season.
Howe was asked directly about his future and gave an unequivocal answer.
"My commitment has never wavered from day one to today. Regardless of who it is, unity running through a football club is important from top to bottom. You need that togetherness and that plan."
He acknowledged the season demands honest reflection.
"Whenever you have things to work on you have to absorb it. If you deflect and think it's nothing to do with us, then you never grow or improve. Reflection, analysis and learning is all part of growing at any football club and certainly there is a lot to take in and absorb from this season."
Howe took charge of Newcastle in November 2021 with the club bottom of the Premier League. He guided them to 11th, fourth, seventh and fifth in his first four completed seasons. This season, despite Champions League football and an EFL Cup run, the league campaign deteriorated badly in the second half. Newcastle lost 17 Premier League matches — their most in any season since 2017-18.
Co-owner Jamie Reuben acknowledged the disappointment publicly on social media.
"Clearly a very disappointing result at the end of an underwhelming season, despite some great moments in the Champions League and other domestic cups. We have not lived up to where we should and need to be. All of us from ownership down to the coaching staff and players will work tirelessly over the summer to advance our project, come back stronger and start the new season in the best way possible."
Newcastle United are not expected to make a change despite the scale of the underperformance. The club's owners backed Howe publicly earlier this month and chief executive David Hopkinson confirmed the club are "not looking to make a change at the moment."
Pre-season begins on 13 July. The rebuild starts then.