Garth Crooks now thinks 24-year-old Newcastle target ‘should be ashamed’ after what he did on Saturday

Add as preferred source on Google

Two of Newcastle United’s January transfer targets were involved in an incident that enraged Garth Crooks on Saturday.

Kalvin Phillips‘ nightmare at West Ham continued, as he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards during a 2-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest.

The 28-year-old midfielder is enduring a torrid time since joining the Hammers, further strengthening Newcastle’s decision to opt against signing him on loan.

Another player who the Magpies did not sign is Morgan Gibbs-White, who was mentioned as a possible replacement for Miguel Almiron when he was being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Gibbs-White was involved in the incident that saw Phillips see red, and BBC pundit Garth Crooks did not like what the Forest midfielder did.

Garth Crooks not happy with Newcastle target Morgan Gibbs-White

Phillips’ second yellow came after he mistimed a challenge on Gibbs-White. A bouncing ball was there to be won, but MGW got there first. Instead, Phillips made contact with the 24-year-old, who went to ground in a heap.

There were a couple of rolls from Forest’s number 10, and Crooks was not a fan of his antics.

On the incident, Crooks wrote for BBC Sport: “The dismissal of Kalvin Phillips in West Ham’s 2-0 defeat was desperately poor. If we’re now sending players off for attempting to win the ball, then the game is in a perilous situation. As for Morgan Gibbs-White exaggerating the challenge, and flying through the air like a trapeze artist, he should be ashamed of himself. Getting players sent off is not what the game has ever been about.”

Crooks’ verdict on Gibbs-White is harsh

As ever, it seems a little bit over the top from Crooks. If there was contact then it will have been a pretty sore one for Gibbs-White. I don’t think he is the one to blame.

Phillips gave the referee a decision to make, and it resulted in a second booking. Now you could argue that the card was harsh, as it was clearly a genuine attempt to win the ball. But, as I say, he gave the referee a change to send him off.

Crooks’ reaction to Gibbs-White is more dramatic than what the former Wolves man actually did.

The incident comes one week after Newcastle United beat Nottingham Forest, when Gibbs-White was involved in an altercation with Toon defender Sven Botman.