Jim Bentley wants to build on late point as Morecambe head to Wycombe

Morecambe head to Wycombe Wanderers this weekend with manager Jim Bentley hoping to capitalise on their late point last time out.
Morecambe manager Jim BentleyMorecambe manager Jim Bentley
Morecambe manager Jim Bentley

The Shrimps had looked set for defeat against Forest Green Rovers last Saturday, only for loanee Gregg Wylde to cap his home debut with a 90th-minute equaliser.

Despite dropping to 22nd in the League Two table, Morecambe’s point extended their advantage to five points over second-bottom Chesterfield – and with a game in hand.

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The point came despite some dissatisfaction from a section of the home support, both at a more direct style of play from the Shrimps and the decision to take off defender Sam Lavelle and replace him with Adam McGurk.

Bentley said: “Everyone’s got an opinion. When you make substitutions or formation changes, you do it for the right reasons.

“We have scored four goals against Yeovil playing 3-4-1-2, three at Barnsley and looked quite solid.

“At the other end we should have scored more than we have – you make decisions in the game for the right reasons. There’s talk of decisions and things that go on but, no matter what happens, I just want the fans to be right behind the players because we need them and they were a credit against Forest Green.”

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Having gained the latest of points last weekend, Morecambe travel to Adams Park looking to do the double over their hosts.

The two sides met at the Globe Arena in November when goals from McGurk and Steve Old gave the home team three points.

Wins have been the exception rather than the norm lately with Morecambe having only taken three points twice in their last 11 outings.

In contrast, Wanderers are in a rich vein of form which has seen them climb to second in the division.

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Gareth Ainsworth’s players are unbeaten in the league so far during 2018 with seven wins and a draw from eight matches.

“I’m thankful we got the (Forest Green) goal – we wanted three points but we’ll take one and now we go on our travels to Wycombe,” Bentley said.

“They are going for promotion and we haven’t won in a bit but, in the past, we’ve gone to Wycombe and done all right. We need a good week, wherever we train, and we have to embrace the challenge.

“We will do our best to win but, if we can’t, then we will take a point.”

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Bentley will be hoping for some better news on the injury front for tomorrow’s trip.

Having declared he had a fully-fit squad for the postponed match against Chesterfield, the Shrimps boss was without Barry Roche (calf), Callum Lang (back), Aaron Wildig (ankle) and Niall Maher (calf) against Forest Green.