Kalvin Phillips’ unhappy loan stint at West Ham hit a new low after he was caught on camera giving the middle finger to fans following Saturday’s 4-3 defeat at Newcastle.
Phillips was sent on with 21 minutes to play with West Ham leading 3-1 but conceded a penalty for a foul on Anthony Gordon from which Alexander Isak scored. That sparked a sensational Newcastle comeback as Harvey Barnes netted two late goals to win the game for the Toon.
A section of the away support were heard shouting “Get out of our club” and “You’re useless” to the on-loan Manchester City midfielder, who arrived at the club in January.
Then, in a video shared on social media, a fan can be heard shouting “useless” as Phillips boarded the team coach after the game.
Once inside the vehicle, Phillips is clearly seen through the windscreen raising his middle finger in the direction of the fans.
West Ham declined to comment on the incident when approached by Sky Sports News on Sunday.
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West Ham boss David Moyes said his decision to bring on Phillips with the Irons leading 3-1 at Newcastle “did not work” following the 4-3 defeat.
He said: “The [second] penalty kick [awarded for Phillips’ foul on Gordon on 77 minutes] is a huge turning point, but I also thought we made a change because we felt as if they had got on top and missed a couple of chances.
“We tried to give ourselves another midfield player at 3-1 up and we didn’t want to wait for it to get to 3-2.
“Probably that decision didn’t work on the day, but more importantly I think the boy puts his foot in front of Kalvin and I don’t know how he’s supposed to see his leg.
Phillips fouls Gordon to hand Newcastle a way back into the match
“The penalty kick makes it 3-2 and we had been doing OK. We gave up a couple of chances before that which I didn’t like and they had started to get some control shooting down the hill, but we had another day when very few things went for us.
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“We got ourselves in front and did a lot of good things.
“We looked a real threat in our attacking play for most of the day. We just couldn’t be defensively sound and, let’s be fair, we’ve had that issue many times already this season.”
Moyes added: “But I have to say, before the penalty kick, Newcastle missed two big chances in the middle of the goal, so that was the reason we made the change, not because we were thinking we were winning 3-1. They had missed big chances and I was trying to make sure we weren’t going to lose and make the change in a positive fashion. We tried to make it at that time, and obviously it didn’t work out.
“But I’m not going to say anything about any player. I wouldn’t do that, it would be wrong.”
‘I can’t get upset by Phillips’ reaction’
Darren Lewis, Sports Journalists’ Association president and Daily Mirror assistant editor, speaking on Sky Sports News:
“There are too many fans in football who believe they have the right to abuse footballers or individuals and then get upset when those individuals show themselves to be human.
“Do we condone offensive gestures and bad language? Of course we don’t, but nor do we defend individuals who treat footballers in the way that some people treated Kalvin Phillips.
“Yes he had a bad game, but does he have the right to have that [abuse]? No he doesn’t, so I’m sorry but I can’t get upset about the way he has reacted.
“He’s going through a tough time. What he doesn’t need is for people to tell him to get out of the club. What he needs is support, and real support is getting behind him.”
Analysis: Moyes allowed Newcastle comeback to happen
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:
“Moyes was scarcely able to believe what he had seen.
“On 53 minutes, West Ham were so comfortable that the away end started to bring out the ‘oles’ as their attractive front four bopped the ball around holding a 3-1 lead. It was a deserved lead, too. Mohammed Kudus had dazzled, Lucas Paqueta was running the game and Jarrod Bowen was in ruthless mood.
“But when the momentum started to shift, Moyes slipped back to his old ways of sitting on a lead instead of utilising West Ham’s clear advantage in the final third against the makeshift Newcastle defence who were clearly struggling. Kalvin Phillips was called for as Paqueta was moved up into a central striking role. As an attacking force, West Ham became redundant. The label of blame has to sit at the manager’s door for that. Yes, Newcastle played with a renewed vigour and intensity but they were allowed to by a retreating Hammers outfit who sank without a trace.”
