Bentley: I don’t understand the doom and gloom

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley has defended his side’s recent form ahead of their trip to Lancashire rivals Accrington Stanley on Friday night.
Jim Bentley hands out instructions during an open training session at the Globe Arena.Jim Bentley hands out instructions during an open training session at the Globe Arena.
Jim Bentley hands out instructions during an open training session at the Globe Arena.

The Shrimps’ form has been patchy with the 2-0 defeat at home to Exeter on Sunday a particular low point.

But Bentley has moved to dispel any “doom and gloom” amongst Morecambe fans as his side look to bounce back with a first ever Football League win over Stanley at the 15th attempt.

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He said: “If you look back over the last month we’ve beaten Southend who are second and we’ve beaten Burton with two clean sheets against top opposition.

“Even when we got beaten by Wycombe I thought the performance was okay on the day and a red card changed the game.

“I think people go a little bit overboard.

“We weren’t great against York but if you look back on the DVD we played some decent stuff.

“On the day we created more chances than York and Jack Redshaw could have had four after coming off the bench.

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“We weren’t great against Exeter but I’m not sure where the doom and gloom has come from.

“We’re eighth but people start questioning because we’ve lost one game at home and weren’t particularly outstanding against York.

“If anyone had said to us we’d be in the top eight at this stage of the season and we’d have not conceded a goal away from home for 200 minutes I’d certainly have taken it.”

Bentley believes the Crown Ground is the perfect place to put any concerns about his side’s form to bed on Halloween night.

He said: “There’s no better place to bounce back.

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“I know we haven’t got a great record there but anything can happen.

“We’re going there to try and win the game first and foremost.

“When you’ve had a disappointing result in front of your home fans it’s good that a game comes a little bit quicker.

“There’ll be times in the season when you’ll have three or four games where you’re not at the races.

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“Exeter was one of those but you’ve just got to make sure you take it on the chin, which we have done, have a good week, which we have, and now we’re ready to do battle on Friday and hopefully we can get a result and give our fans something to sing about.”