Morecambe 2019/20 season review: November brings a new manager

With a decision now made as to the starting date for the 2020/21 season – and Morecambe having been out of action since early March – we thought we’d take a month-by-month look back at 2019/20.
Derek Adams was named as Morecambe's new manager in November 2019Derek Adams was named as Morecambe's new manager in November 2019
Derek Adams was named as Morecambe's new manager in November 2019

This week, we go back to November when a new manager arrived at the club...

Morecambe had gone into November bottom of the league and without a manager following Jim Bentley’s departure.

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Kevin Ellison and Barry Roche had been placed in temporary charge as the Shrimps sought a replacement for a man who had been the longest-serving boss in English football.

Their first task was to oversee the game against Leyton Orient – and they took three points thanks to a 1-0 win.

Both men omitted themselves from the side beaten at Stevenage seven days earlier and saw the Shrimps have the better of the first half.

Andrew Tutte had one effort deflected behind and another pushed over by keeper Dean Brill.

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The second period saw both teams unable to fashion any real chances until A-Jay Leitch-Smith turned the game.

Two minutes after his arrival off the bench, he sent a curling effort into the top corner of Brill’s goal.

That woke up the visitors as Mark Halstead was off his line quickly to block Dan Happe’s shot and Josh Wright flicked a header wide.

The closest they came, however, was in the fourth of five added minutes when Wright bundled James Brophy’s cross towards goal, only for Halstead to push the ball behind.

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Off the field, the run-up to the FA Cup tie at Blackpool was dominated by speculation as to who would succeed Bentley.

Dave Challinor, Stewart Drummond, Ian Evatt and Kevin Nolan were all touted by the bookies.

It proved to be none of them, however, as former Plymouth Argyle and Ross County boss Derek Adams was announced as the new man in charge.

He watched on as Ellison and Roche again took charge at Blackpool, where the Shrimps were beaten 4-1.

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An entertaining game saw both sides spurn a number of chances with Morecambe twice hitting the woodwork and then seeing their hosts score seconds later.

Blackpool led on nine minutes when Armand Gnanduillet headed Liam Feeney’s cross back across goal for Nathan Delfouneso to find the net.

Midway through the half and Sam Lavelle struck the Blackpool bar and, moments later, the Seasiders won a corner from which Gnanduillet doubled their lead.

History repeated itself two minutes before half-time when Cole Stockton hit the post, Blackpool went upfield and Matty Virtue found the net.

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Stockton wasn’t to be denied in added time though, firing home after Tom Brewitt’s shot was spilled.

Blackpool had much the better of the second half and should have added to their tally but Sullay Kaikai twice blazed over.

However, it would be third time lucky for the winger late on when he lifted the ball over Halstead to complete the scoring.

Adams didn’t have long to wait for his first match in charge as, having been officially unveiled as manager 48 hours later, his new team met Carlisle United on the Tuesday.

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It was the final EFL Trophy group stage match with the Shrimps having lost at Blackpool and then beaten on penalties by Wolves’ youngsters.

They fell behind when Jarrad Branthwaite strode forward and held off the would-be tacklers before firing home.

Elias Sorensen hit the post for the visitors, though Morecambe saw Lewis Alessandra acrobatically denied and Steve Old also headed over.

A change of system after the break paid dividends as the Shrimps levelled just past the hour.

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Christie Elliott clumsily fouled Aaron Wildig and Tutte scored from the spot.

Six minutes later, Leitch-Smith was sent clear down the right-hand channel before his cross was bundled home by Wildig from close range.

The comeback was completed in the first of five added minutes as Luke Conlan had the last word with a fierce strike to give the Shrimps a 3-1 win.

Adams’ first league game arrived four days later with a trip to Crawley Town bringing a 1-1 draw.

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Morecambe started the game on the front foot with Wildig and Stockton missing great chances.

At the other end, Bez Lubala forced a good save from Mark Halstead and Ashley Nadesan headed wide.

The game looked set to be goalless at the break, but in the 43rd minute, David Sesay broke into the Morecambe penalty area and was brought down by Tom Brewitt.

Referee Antony Coggins pointed to the spot and Lubala coolly slotted the ball past Halstead for his ninth goal of the season.

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Morecambe hit back and had the first half-chance of the second period when Ritchie Sutton narrowly missed the target with a header.

As the game entered its final stages, Adams brought on John O’Sullivan for Old and the change had an almost immediate effect as Morecambe levelled with nine minutes to go.

Brewitt was found down the right by George Tanner and his near post cross was turned in by Stockton from six yards out.

A week later, Morecambe dropped back to the foot of League Two with a 5-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra.

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Even though Lavelle was sent off for the Shrimps, they came up against a Crewe side who controlled the game and also hit the woodwork three times.

Crewe took the lead on 23 minutes when Ryan Wintle lifted a lovely ball to the far post for Oliver Finney to nod in his first league goal.

It was 2-0 on 31 minutes when Tom Lowery’s effort took a wicked deflection off Conlan to wrongfoot Halstead.

Matters got worse for the Shrimps moments later when Lavelle was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Harry Pickering.

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An uphill battle became a mountain to climb five minutes later when Crewe made it-3-0 as Charlie Kirk’s shot seemed to take another deflection on its way past Halstead.

Pickering and Lowery both hit the woodwork just before half-time, after which the home side made it 4-0 as Wintle got the better of Halstead with a superb strike from 20 yards.

Kirk struck the woodwork before Finney eventually wrapped up the scoring after a shot was deflected into his path.

Next week: December brings a couple of good results but the year ends in losing fashion...