Stevenage manager praises Filipe Morais and Francois Zoko partnership

The Comet: Filipe Morais of Stevenage shoots wide. Photo: Kevin Coleman 2013Filipe Morais of Stevenage shoots wide. Photo: Kevin Coleman 2013 (Image: © Kevin Coleman 2013)

Graham Westley says the strike partnership of Francois Zoko and Filipe Morais was just too hot for Crewe to handle last night.

The Boro boss watched from the sidelines as Morais scored a superb brace while Zoko had a hand in two of Stevenage’s three goals, and speaking after the match Westley said he was pleased with the problems the duo caused the home side.

“Well Fil Morais and Zoko, their combination play was too much for [Crewe] to handle. There’s no question about that.

“In the first half they were hot. There was a lot of good work going on; they were causing all sorts of problems. They were combining well with the midfield and with the two wide players and the combination of the front four looked really exciting.”

The victory saw Stevenage put Saturday’s defeat to Walsall behind them, and the clean sheet they kept was the first one recorded by the club since the 0-0 draw with Tranmere Rovers on September 7.

“Clean sheets have been a big part of us over the years,” Westley said.

“Resilience, organisation, determination and concentration in the back line, a high line, few spaces, real strength in the challenge – and I think you saw that from the back line and they were ably supported by the six lads working hard in front of them.

“We’ve been improving haven’t we [with] the recent results, the MK Dons result, the Brentford result. I didn’t get concerned by what went on at the weekend [against Walsall, when the club was hit by food poisoning]. I told you the situation with the sickness and it took the edge off of us.

“We weren’t as good at the weekend as we’ve shown we were in the previous two but on the whole the squad has started to produce a lot more.

“Defensively we look better organised and offensively we look like we’ve got a threat and a goal in us. The entire attitude of the team is changing; the winning mentality is coming back.

“You take the game to oppositions, you don’t wait for them to come at you and it’s been a hard battle to create a mindset in the football club that Stevenage are going to come and take the game to you, Stevenage are going to play on top of the game, Stevenage are going to play in your half.

“That mentality is the one that we’ve managed to instil over the years and one that we’re determined to get back.”