PHILLIPS: A POINT WELL-EARNED

PHILLIPS: A POINT WELL-EARNED

Midfielder reflects on Sunday's 0-0 draw at Reading...

Midfielder Kalvin Phillips was glad to be back in the starting line-up against Reading on Sunday afternoon and felt the 0-0 draw was "a point well-earned" at the Madejski Stadium

The 19-year-old, who made his senior debut away to Wolves back in April, replaced the suspended Lewis Cook for his first appearance of the new season, completing 72 minutes of the game.

Phillips had been around the first-team set-up throughout pre-season and found himself as an unused substitute in United’s opening two games of 2015/16, before being presented with his chance at Reading.

“I’m always disappointed not to be involved but I always work hard in training and it was good to get the start away at Reading, which is a tough game,” he said.

“I was a bit nervous, to be honest, because I wasn’t expecting it.

“I just took it in my stride and hopefully I’ll get another chance at Bristol on Wednesday.”

Reflecting on his own display, Phillips added: “I thought I played well in the first half, in the second half I was getting a little bit tired but I haven’t played 90 minutes so it was good.

“I thought I did what the gaffer wanted me to do. I kept the ball well in the first half; I was just getting tired in the second half.

“He wanted me to keep the ball moving in midfield and get on it when Tom couldn’t, try to play forward and defend well.”

It was a game of few chances for either side but Phillips felt United were on top during the opening 45 minutes.

“I thought we were better by a mile in the first half,” he said. “The second half got a bit scrappy so we were fighting.

“The lads are saying that it’s a point well-earned and that we’ve done well to come to Reading and get a point. We’ve defended well throughout the last three or four games.

“Everyone is in great spirits; we’re starting to act like a team. There’s a good buzz around the changing room.”

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