HOT SHOT MARK FIL-S HIS BOOTS
EVERY KICK, EVERY GOAL ‘Postman’ delivers
GOAL-MAD defender Mark Beevers says Bolton are feasting on “buffet balls” from Filipe Morais.
Beevers says his side are helping themselves to loads of goals thanks to the form of the 31-year-old Portuguese wing-back, who has been dubbed “the postman” because of his perfect delivery.
Morais laid on two more goals in a hardfought win at Shrewsbury to take his tally of assists to 11 since February 28.
That is more in 2017 than anyone else in England’s top four divisions, with Beevers and on-form striker Adam Le Fondre netting the goals that saw off the Shrews.
Not bad for a player released by Bradford in January and picked up by Bolton boss Phil Parkinson on a free.
“It’s incredible what he’s done since he’s come in,” said Beevers, who headed his fifth goal in six games from a Morais long throw-in.
“The big lads just need some ‘buffet balls’ and he’s been putting them in there.
“I know what Fil is capable of but I don’t think even he expected it to be this good.
“He knows he can deliver a good ball and it’s up to the rest of the lads to get on the end of it and put it in the back of the net.”
Beevers headed home a Morais throw six minutes into the second half and 15 minutes later another cross was blasted home by Le Fondre. The former Reading and Cardiff striker, who dubbed Morais ‘the postman’ on Twitter, has now scored five goals in as many games.
It meant a fifth straight win for Bolton and a fourth successive away victory for the first time since 2001.
Parkinson’s second-placed side are six points clear of third-placed Fleetwood in the race for promotion to the Championship.
Beevers added: “Throughout the season we’ve had a couple of stretches where we’ve not quite got what we wanted.
“But in the last five games we’ve really hit some form and shown what we’re capable of. It’s the right time to do it.”
Defeat for Shrewsbury left Paul Hurst’s side just a point above the relegation zone.
“I thought we defended most set plays and long throws pretty well,” said Hurst.
“But we made a wrong decision back there and found ourselves behind.
“That’s where we’ve got to be a little bit stronger mentally.”