Kalvin Phillips’ blushes were spared as West Ham’s Premier League point against Bournemouth at London Stadium was saved by James Ward-Prowse’s penalty kick in the second half.
Signing of a new Hammer After giving Dominic Solanke the ball straight, Phillips had a forgettable start as Bournemouth took the lead in less than three minutes.
But when Lloyd Kelly tripped Mohammed Kudus in the penalty area in the 61st minute, Ward-Prowse’s spot-kick went straight down the middle, giving West Ham a chance to get back into the game.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click here to join.
It was a chilly night in the capital and neither team could find a victory.
“We weren’t very good with the ball, we weren’t very good at passing it,” West Ham boss David Moyes remarked.
“Anyway, we came away with something, and we’ll accept that. Hopefully, we’ll get better.
With no wins in their last four games, the Hammers remain sixth in the Premier League standings, while Bournemouth climb to 12th place, eight points above the relegation zone.
Manchester City loanee Phillips has struggled for game time since joining Pep Guardiola’s City from Leeds for £45m in July 2022.
RELATED STORY: Man Utd matchwinner Mainoo feels like a dream come true, giving off Seedorf vibes
It was only his second touch in a West Ham shirt when he prodded opponent Solanke to finish from close range after Kurt Zouma’s weak ball. On Friday night, he made only his third Premier League start in the previous two seasons.
Jarrod Bowen came close to testing Bournemouth keeper Pedro Neto with a looping header, but West Ham was unimpressive in the first half and were jeered off at halftime.
After referee Tim Robinson was instructed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to consult his pitchside monitor, the official overturned his no-penalty call, allowing West Ham to equalize.
“Even though Ward-Prowse levelled things up from the spot, the home team was unable to generate any more convincing opportunities and, at halftime, a smaller portion of the crowd jeered them off.
For the first time since 2010, the Hammers have now lost all five of their opening games in a calendar year, yet still holding a European position in the Premier League standings.
Regarding Phillips, he did get more focused after the interval and was well received when he replaced Danny Ings in the 68th minute.
“I am aware of Phillips’ abilities as a player,” Kudus, a teammate, told Premier League Productions. It takes some getting used to when you join a new team and system.
“I have complete faith in him and have no reservations about him. He’ll improve in the next game.
