Pundit slams Mikey

Mikey Antonio has been slammed by ex-Hammers striker Dean Ashton.

West Ham were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle on Saturday, as the Irons missed the chance to climb back into the top four.

They are now one point behind Manchester United but the Red Devils could move to four points clear if they beat Leeds on Sunday.

Mikey had a muted display against the Magpies and has now gone six games without a goal since scoring against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day.

Ashton wasn’t impressed with his display and believes that he simply dropped too deep throughout the game, as he was needed in the final third.

Indeed, in the second half, the Hammers did not actually have a shot on target, with a number of efforts blocked by the steadfast Magpies defence.

Speaking on talkSPORT commentary, Ashton, who scored 19 goals in 56 games for the Hammers, criticised Mikey’s display.

He said: “I wish I could go down there and hand Michail Antonio a piece of paper and on it would say: ‘You are a goalscorer not a playmaker. Get yourself in the box.’

“Stop worrying about making clever little runs outside the 18-yard box and getting involved as much as he has done.

“He works incredibly hard, that’s absolutely right, but can he work a little bit smarter. Time and time again he’s not in the box.”

Later on, he was left exasperated as Mikey was not in his usual position, saying: “What is he doing out there?

“You’ve got your full-back and your winger, absolutely got things under control.

“Cresswell turns back and he’s got his centre-forward as if he’s like a follow-up left-back.

“Just leave it them. Get yourself into the box where that cross you put into the box ended up. That should be where you are, heading it in.

“He’s only scored two in 16 games, get yourself into the box.”