A cover device for a dewatering shoe of a papermaking machine, said cover device comprising: a plate of expanded metal defining a plurality of elongate holes for the passage therethrough of water removed from a web disposed on a dewatering screen moving relative to the cover device with the dewatering screen being disposed between the web and the cover device so that the water is removed from the web through the dewatering screen and then through said elongate holes; a first row of holes of said plurality of elongate holes, each hole of said first row having a first common longitudinal axis; a second row of holes of said plurality of elongate holes, each hole of said second row having a second common longitudinal axis; said first and second common longitudinal axes (28 and 32) being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other; said plate of expanded metal including: a metal bridge disposed between each hole of said first row of holes and an adjacent hole of said first row of holes; a metal connector is disposed between each hole of said first row of holes and an adjacent hole of said second row of holes; said bridge being disposed at a first distance relative to the dewatering screen moving relative to the cover device; said connector disposed adjacent to said bridge being disposed at a second distance relative to the dewatering screen moving relative to the cover device; and said second distance being greater than said first distance so that the dewatering screen slides over and is supported by said bridges during movement of the dewatering screen while moving relative to the cover device. a plate of expanded metal defining a plurality of elongate holes for the passage therethrough of water removed from a web disposed on a dewatering screen moving relative to the cover device with the dewatering screen being disposed between the web and the cover device so that the water is removed from the web through the dewatering screen and then through said elongate holes; a first row of holes of said plurality of elongate holes, each hole of said first row having a first common longitudinal axis; a second row of holes of said plurality of elongate holes, each hole of said second row having a second common longitudinal axis; said first and second common longitudinal axes (28 and 32) being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other; said plate of expanded metal including: a metal bridge disposed between each hole of said first row of holes and an adjacent hole of said first row of holes; a metal connector is disposed between each hole of said first row of holes and an adjacent hole of said second row of holes; said bridge being disposed at a first distance relative to the dewatering screen moving relative to the cover device; said connector disposed adjacent to said bridge being disposed at a second distance relative to the dewatering screen moving relative to the cover device; and said second distance being greater than said first distance so that the dewatering screen slides over and is supported by said bridges during movement of the dewatering screen while moving relative to the cover device. a metal bridge disposed between each hole of said first row of holes and an adjacent hole of said first row of holes; a metal connector is disposed between each hole of said first row of holes and an adjacent hole of said second row of holes; said bridge being disposed at a first distance relative to the dewatering screen moving relative to the cover device; said connector disposed adjacent to said bridge being disposed at a second distance relative to the dewatering screen moving relative to the cover device; and said second distance being greater than said first distance so that the dewatering screen slides over and is supported by said bridges during movement of the dewatering screen while moving relative to the cover device.