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Former Wanderers star Filipe Morais believes Billy Crellin will benefit from watching his goalkeeper coach Matt Gilks in action.
Speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports, Morais was delighted to see 38-year-old Gilks keep a clean sheet in Bolton’s 2-0 victory against Salford City – his first competitive start for 14 months.
Youngster Crellin was dropped to the bench by manager Ian Evatt after a patch of indifferent form since his loan move from Fleetwood Town.
But Morais feels he can bow benefit from taking a watching brief and picking up some good habits from ex-Scotland international, Gilks.
“Every player goes through it, keepers are just highlighted a lot more if they make a mistake it’s a goal and it costs the team but it’s a great learning curve for him, it’s the first time he has been under real pressure and if there were fans in the stadium it would have been a lot tougher because those fans have high expectations at Bolton,” he said.
“But hopefully he comes back from it, needs that little breather, a step out, and Gilks does well because when he comes back it’s clear he has got a lot of potential. At the moment it’s a lot of pressure.”
On Gilks’ return, Morais believes the veteran’s communication skills played a major part in a morale-boosting win.
“It was a huge impact and it shows how much an experienced head can have on the team,” he said.
“We could hear it on the TV and I’m sure everyone in Bolton could hear his voice, maybe even Manchester, but that’s what it takes. He’ll know that you need high levels of communication through having the career he’s had. Concentration to get results and keep clean sheets, that’s what it has taken and if he has his voice tomorrow I will be very surprised.”
Wanderers moved up to 15th overnight as a result of their third win of the season, courtesy of Eoin Doyle’s first-half strike and a second-half own goal by Jordan Turnbull.
Morais was impressed by the defensive organisation and shape, which granted Salford more possession but limited them to few clear-cut opportunities.
“It is what Bolton have been missing,” he said. “If you look back at those previous games they have been lacking the qualities shown out there, battling qualities and concentrations levels, the shape was brilliant, the wing-backs were getting back as much as they were getting forward and there was more protection for the goalkeeper.
“They were hard to break down, they were resilient, Sarcevic would drive out from midfield, he had a great game as well.
“In that system, 3-5-2, communication is key. And having that connection with the wing-backs, that timing on the press is very important, as are your recovery runs. They did all those fundamental things really well.”
Wanderers have been slow to settle into a new style of play this season, with a raft of new signings so far struggling to live up to their pre-season billing as promotion favourites.
Morais believes, however, that League One football should still be the ultimate aim with the attacking resources available at his former club.
“The mentality has to be that they should be getting promoted,” he said.
“This result against Salford, a team that clearly want to get promoted, Bolton have convincingly beaten them. They need to take that forward now.
“They have their threats, Doyle, Delfouneso, Crawford, Sarcevic, and they have a defensive foundation now.”
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Speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports, Morais was delighted to see 38-year-old Gilks keep a clean sheet in Bolton’s 2-0 victory against Salford City – his first competitive start for 14 months.
Youngster Crellin was dropped to the bench by manager Ian Evatt after a patch of indifferent form since his loan move from Fleetwood Town.
But Morais feels he can bow benefit from taking a watching brief and picking up some good habits from ex-Scotland international, Gilks.
“Every player goes through it, keepers are just highlighted a lot more if they make a mistake it’s a goal and it costs the team but it’s a great learning curve for him, it’s the first time he has been under real pressure and if there were fans in the stadium it would have been a lot tougher because those fans have high expectations at Bolton,” he said.
“But hopefully he comes back from it, needs that little breather, a step out, and Gilks does well because when he comes back it’s clear he has got a lot of potential. At the moment it’s a lot of pressure.”
On Gilks’ return, Morais believes the veteran’s communication skills played a major part in a morale-boosting win.
“It was a huge impact and it shows how much an experienced head can have on the team,” he said.
“We could hear it on the TV and I’m sure everyone in Bolton could hear his voice, maybe even Manchester, but that’s what it takes. He’ll know that you need high levels of communication through having the career he’s had. Concentration to get results and keep clean sheets, that’s what it has taken and if he has his voice tomorrow I will be very surprised.”
Wanderers moved up to 15th overnight as a result of their third win of the season, courtesy of Eoin Doyle’s first-half strike and a second-half own goal by Jordan Turnbull.
Morais was impressed by the defensive organisation and shape, which granted Salford more possession but limited them to few clear-cut opportunities.
“It is what Bolton have been missing,” he said. “If you look back at those previous games they have been lacking the qualities shown out there, battling qualities and concentrations levels, the shape was brilliant, the wing-backs were getting back as much as they were getting forward and there was more protection for the goalkeeper.
“They were hard to break down, they were resilient, Sarcevic would drive out from midfield, he had a great game as well.
“In that system, 3-5-2, communication is key. And having that connection with the wing-backs, that timing on the press is very important, as are your recovery runs. They did all those fundamental things really well.”
Wanderers have been slow to settle into a new style of play this season, with a raft of new signings so far struggling to live up to their pre-season billing as promotion favourites.
Morais believes, however, that League One football should still be the ultimate aim with the attacking resources available at his former club.
“The mentality has to be that they should be getting promoted,” he said.
“This result against Salford, a team that clearly want to get promoted, Bolton have convincingly beaten them. They need to take that forward now.
“They have their threats, Doyle, Delfouneso, Crawford, Sarcevic, and they have a defensive foundation now.”
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