Morecambe boss has eyes on play-off spots ahead of York trip

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley knows a good festive period can see his side right in amongst the League 2 play-off picture.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley. Picture: Matt RushtonMorecambe boss Jim Bentley. Picture: Matt Rushton
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley. Picture: Matt Rushton

Despite being 16th, The Shrimps are just six points shy of the top-seven ahead of the trip to bottom side York City on Saturday.

Bentley said: “We’re six at the minute off the play-offs with a game in hand.

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“It’s important that we get points on the board over the Christmas period to at least stay in the chasing pack and ideally if we can get quite a few points on the board we’ll get right up to where we want to be.

Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Area Quarter-Finals.	
Barnsley FC v York City.
York manager Jackie McNamara.
10th November 2015.
Picture : Jonathan GawthorpeJohnstone's Paint Trophy. Area Quarter-Finals.	
Barnsley FC v York City.
York manager Jackie McNamara.
10th November 2015.
Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Area Quarter-Finals. Barnsley FC v York City. York manager Jackie McNamara. 10th November 2015. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

“Games come thick and fast, especially on the 26th and 28th, so it’s a good opportunity.

“The good thing is is that it’s in our hands.

“We’re pretty pleased with where we are and there’s still plenty to play for, we’re not even halfway through.”

The form book is in The Shrimps’ favour with new York boss Jackie McNamara having lost all seven of his games in charge as part of a club record nine straight defeats.

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Bentley however knows that a run like that has to end sooner rather than later.

He said: “You can’t underestimate anyone at any level.

“Look at Sunderland in the Premier League, a new manager went in and they won a couple back-to-back, and Bournemouth were struggling and they’ve just beaten Chelsea and Man United.

“Anyone is capable of beating anyone in our division. Yes York are having a difficult time and find themselves bottom of the table but they’ve got a new manager in there and new players on loan and they can take time to bed in.

“They’ll be looking to break the cycle and get out of the bottom two so we know it will be a tough game.

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“But we’ll go there postive and we’ve got more than enough to win the game.”

Having been involved in plenty of high-scoring thrillers in the early part of the season Bentley has gone big and strong in the last two games against Dagenham and Redbridge and Fleetwood as he looked to end a run of poor form in December.

Bentley said: “There’s stregnths and weaknesses in all formations.

“We tightened up against Dagenham playing three at the back and got the one goal but we could easily have scored three or four.

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“We’ve been open this season and played 4-2-3-1 or something like that and we’ve sometimes not scored the goals we wanted to.

“Fleetwood was a little bit different because I think they were quite a bit ahead of us but certainly against Dagenham we could have won two, three or maybe even 4-0.

“It’ll be a tough game for us but whatever formation we go with it’ll be because we’re looking to win the game.”