Former Premier League referee Mike Dean slammed Kalvin Phillips as 'stupid' as the midfielder's horrendous start to his West Ham loan spell continued.
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Phillips sent off in dismal Forest lossDismissal compounds nightmare start to loanWest Ham still winless in 2024GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The 28-year-old was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession as the Hammers slid to a 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. And Dean was scathing in his new role as a pundit on ' Soccer Saturday when describing the incident.
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An exasperated Dean said: "He's just been cautioned for getting involved with [Nicolas] Dominguez for no reason whatsoever. Then two minutes later he's just flicked the ball over him has [Morgan] Gibbs-White and he's just caught him on top of the foot. Stupid, your second yellow card. And he's just wasting his time playing, he doesn't even look interested for me."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Hammers fans vented their frustrations on social media, with one irate supporter asking if Phillips' loan move could be cancelled mid-game.
It's been a troubled start to life in east London for the England midfielder who most observers deemed to be a useful winter signing for David Moyes' side when he left Manchester City to pick up regular game time. But errors in his first two appearances, last weekend's mauling at the hands of Arsenal and now a costly sending off means Phillips' hopes of recreating the form that made him a regular for England is shaping up to be a lot more complicated than anticipated.
(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KALVIN PHILLIPS AND WEST HAM?
A suspended Phillips will have to sit things out when West Ham attempt to end their winless start to the year when they cross the capital to take on Brentford on Monday February 26. Events at the City Ground on Saturday are sure to ramp up fans' dissatisfaction with Moyes, who has never quite won over the West Ham faithful.