EXCLUSIVE
Kalvin Phillips’ West Ham career ‘goes from bad to worse’ as mistake leads to collapse at Newcastle
Kalvin Phillips cannot catch a break in a West Ham shirt, and it was another day to forget for the midfielder against Newcastle on Saturday.
The Hammers were 3-1 up and flying against the Magpies at St James’ Park, until Phillips came off the bench, and what Hammers fans were hoping wouldn’t happen… did.
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David Moyes’ men conjured a fine response to finding themselves 1-0 down early on after Alexander Isak’s controversial penalty - with goals from Michail Antonio and Mohammed Kudus sending the visitors into the break in front.
Jarrod Bowen then found the net with a strong low finish to make it 3-1 briefly after the restart, but it all fell apart after Phillips’ introduction.
There were 20 minutes left of the game when Moyes decided to take off striker Antonio and replace him with the holding midfielder.
Phillips’ loan spell at the east London club had not been hugely positive before this game - gifting a goal to Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke in his first appearance since arriving from Man City, while he was then sent off in only his fourth game for the club.
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He then started against Burnley before the international break, but was hauled off at half-time with the Hammers 2-0 down. They rallied back to draw 2-2 without him.
And the opposite happened against Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime, as his introduction led to West Ham’s demise as the hosts staged a miraculous comeback to win 4-3.
Phillips conceded the second penalty of the game, clattering into the back of Anthony Gordon in the box, which led to Isak making it 3-2 from the spot, before a late double from substitute Harvey Barnes sealed a stunning Newcastle victory.
It was harsh on Phillips, with former West Ham striker Dean Ashton insisting he was just unlucky to catch the Magpies winger as he attempted to clear the ball.
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But the talkSPORT pundit admitted things just haven’t worked out since his loan move to the London Stadium.
“Anthony Gordon, in very similar scenes to the first-half when he got ahead of Vladimir Coufal, I think he gets ahead of Kalvin Phillips, who looks like he goes to clear it and just clatters through Gordon.
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“Phillips knows nothing about it, he doesn’t see Gordon behind him - he is just thinking, 'I’m going to clear this', and Gordon just pretty bravely sticks his leg in the way as he tries to hook the ball, and he knows he’s going to get whacked.
"I don't particularly blame Phillips for that because it happened so quickly. Gordon is so quick and he's just trying to clear the ball and he can't pull out of the challenge.
“But it just seems to go from bad to worse for Kalvin Phillips in a West Ham shirt.
"I’m sure David Moyes will have to answer questions about his substitutions, the timing of those and the fact they just seemed to wilt when the pressure came."
talkSPORT host Gabby Agbonlahor later admitted he 'feels sorry' for Phillips amid his nightmare season.
"He just looks so low on confidence," said the former Aston Villa captain. "I actually feel sorry for him now.
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"He comes on, that happens and you can see it in his face, he's not really getting on the ball as he's meant to.
"And for Barnes' winner, he just turns Phillips too easily, and after Barnes turns him Phillips just walks. He must be so low on confidence, it's really hard."
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