Rookie coach Duncan hits mark with Vellios
Former Toffees frontman Ferguson, who retired from playing in 2006, has been working at the Merseyside outfit’s Finch Farm training complex gaining experience while he takes his coaching badges.
The former Scotland international has no official role at the club but has certainly made an impression on Vellios, who came off the bench at the Reebok Stadium to score his third goal of the season and credits Ferguson with boosting his confidence.
“On Friday I was training with Duncan Ferguson and this gave me more confidence,” Vellios said.
“I know him and I know he’s a big star. He’s a big centre-forward and a legend and I know what I’m doing with him.
“He gave me confidence inside the box because on Friday we did a lot of work on that.
“He told me you have to be a centre-forward, you have to be the big one, you have to keep the ball and score. I’ve seen a lot of videos of him and I’m very happy to work with him.”
Vellios netted 12 minutes from time, slotting in from Tim Cahill’s cut-back, after Marouane Fellaini had opened the scoring with a sliding finish four minutes into the second half.
Bolton had earlier had David Wheater sent off, the defender being shown a straight red card in the 20th minute for a lunge on Diniyar Bilyaletdinov after losing control of the ball.
The result means Everton — despite missing several regular first-team players through injury — recorded back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time this term and manager David Moyes expressed his delight at seeing the likes of 19-year-old Vellios make their contribution.
“We had Sylvain Distin, Phil Neville, Jack Rodwell, Royston Drenthe and Victor Anichebe out injured, so our bench was young,” Moyes said.
“But it’s reached the point now where I’m actually quite enjoying giving the young boys a chance.
“Tolos has come on and scored again. We know Ross Barkley will have more of a chance in the future. Magaye Gueye and Conor McAleny were also on the bench.
“The reserves played really well in midweek, and these guys were playing then as well.
“I was really pleased that I could show them that if they play well, we will reward them by trying to get them towards the team.”
Bolton manager Owen Coyle was in no doubt that the red card — which he said he was not surprised to see given the nature of Wheater’s challenge — was a pivotal moment in the game, but did not want to use it as an excuse for the defeat, the team’s 10th in the league this season.
“It was a huge turning point,” Coyle said.
“Prior to that we had started well and looked a threat going forward, and we continued to work hard.
“But my disappointment is that we lost two soft goals from our point of view. There is no excuse to say that it was because we were down to 10 men.”
Wanderers remain in the relegation zone but Coyle is confident the team will get out of trouble.
“There is no getting away from the stigma of being in the bottom three,” Coyle said. “It is certainly not nice and it has been a horrible couple of months, it goes without saying. But I think the important thing is that you see through that, see the big picture and know that you can turn it around.’’
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
