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Millwall old boy Mark Beevers was happy to play pantomime villain if it saved team-mate Josh Cullen and Reece Burke from “special treatment” at The Den.
Fans in South London normally reserve their hottest receptions for anyone with links to fierce capital rivals West Ham.
But Hammers loanees Cullen and Burke got away relatively unscathed as the Millwall support turned their sights on the big defender – who had the last laugh, clearing two goal-bound efforts in the second half to preserve a point for Phil Parkinson’s side.
“I think Josh and Reece will be quite happy I was in the team today,” Beevers joked after the game.
“I played here for four years and I know what it’s like – you’re going to get a bit of stick.
“You can’t take it seriously. To be honest I’d like to think after four years I’d get a warm reception but it’s how it is.
“They were a big part of my career so far and it is nice to come back here and see a few old faces, chat to a few of the boys and the manager.
“I expected it. Those kind of things you have to block out of your mind and concentrate on what you are doing on the pitch.”
Millwall’s hostility clearly didn’t extend to the management, who enquired about taking Beevers back to South London a few weeks ago only to be given the short shrift.
“It never got to any stage where I had to make a decision,” admitted the defender. “I am happy at Bolton Wanderers and whenever I put a shirt on I’ll give 100 per cent.”
Beevers knew the Whites were in for a battle on his old stomping ground, faced with former team-mates Steve Morison and Lee Gregory.
He denied the former a winning goal with a point-blank block in the final few minutes to send the Wanderers fans home pleased with a point.
“I don’t think Moro was too pleased with that one – he’d caught the shot sweet as a nut,” Beevers said.
“As a defender you’ve got to be willing to put your body on the line. When I saw him winding back that right foot I just tried to get something in the way, thankfully it was my hip and the ball didn’t go in.”
Beevers has been impressed by defensive partner Burke since he stepped into the back three for the injured David Wheater.
“He’s a quality young player and to be in the middle of a back three you have got to have broad shoulders and be able to talk to the players in front of you,” he said. “There’s a lot of decision-making to be done and I thought he got it all spot on.”
A week today Wanderers should know whether the legal issues which have rumbled on all summer have been solved, as the BluMarble winding-up petition against Sports Shield BWFC is finalised once and for all.
On the pitch, Beevers reckons there is plenty to keep the players occupied.
Wanderers’ last stint in the Championship was blighted by financial distraction but the defender is confident the same will not happen again.
“Whoever is in the dressing room sticks together, they are a great group.,” he said. “Whatever is going on off the pitch is absolutely nothing to do with us, we can’t do a thing about it.
“Anyone looking from the outside will agree with me when I say we’ve got quality in our team and the manager has done well to bring in what he has.
“The majority of the players who got us out of League One into the Championship are still here so in my mind we need to carry that on and we’ll be alright.”
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Fans in South London normally reserve their hottest receptions for anyone with links to fierce capital rivals West Ham.
But Hammers loanees Cullen and Burke got away relatively unscathed as the Millwall support turned their sights on the big defender – who had the last laugh, clearing two goal-bound efforts in the second half to preserve a point for Phil Parkinson’s side.
“I think Josh and Reece will be quite happy I was in the team today,” Beevers joked after the game.
“I played here for four years and I know what it’s like – you’re going to get a bit of stick.
“You can’t take it seriously. To be honest I’d like to think after four years I’d get a warm reception but it’s how it is.
“They were a big part of my career so far and it is nice to come back here and see a few old faces, chat to a few of the boys and the manager.
“I expected it. Those kind of things you have to block out of your mind and concentrate on what you are doing on the pitch.”
Millwall’s hostility clearly didn’t extend to the management, who enquired about taking Beevers back to South London a few weeks ago only to be given the short shrift.
“It never got to any stage where I had to make a decision,” admitted the defender. “I am happy at Bolton Wanderers and whenever I put a shirt on I’ll give 100 per cent.”
Beevers knew the Whites were in for a battle on his old stomping ground, faced with former team-mates Steve Morison and Lee Gregory.
He denied the former a winning goal with a point-blank block in the final few minutes to send the Wanderers fans home pleased with a point.
“I don’t think Moro was too pleased with that one – he’d caught the shot sweet as a nut,” Beevers said.
“As a defender you’ve got to be willing to put your body on the line. When I saw him winding back that right foot I just tried to get something in the way, thankfully it was my hip and the ball didn’t go in.”
Beevers has been impressed by defensive partner Burke since he stepped into the back three for the injured David Wheater.
“He’s a quality young player and to be in the middle of a back three you have got to have broad shoulders and be able to talk to the players in front of you,” he said. “There’s a lot of decision-making to be done and I thought he got it all spot on.”
A week today Wanderers should know whether the legal issues which have rumbled on all summer have been solved, as the BluMarble winding-up petition against Sports Shield BWFC is finalised once and for all.
On the pitch, Beevers reckons there is plenty to keep the players occupied.
Wanderers’ last stint in the Championship was blighted by financial distraction but the defender is confident the same will not happen again.
“Whoever is in the dressing room sticks together, they are a great group.,” he said. “Whatever is going on off the pitch is absolutely nothing to do with us, we can’t do a thing about it.
“Anyone looking from the outside will agree with me when I say we’ve got quality in our team and the manager has done well to bring in what he has.
“The majority of the players who got us out of League One into the Championship are still here so in my mind we need to carry that on and we’ll be alright.”
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