Morecambe boss Bentley: Dagenham win has changed outlook

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley knows just how one result can quickly change perceptions.
Jim Bentley and Kevin Ellison celebrate the win over Dagenham.Jim Bentley and Kevin Ellison celebrate the win over Dagenham.
Jim Bentley and Kevin Ellison celebrate the win over Dagenham.

The Shrimps won for the first time in six games against Dagenham & Redbridge at the Globe Arena last Tuesday night to halt a patchy run of form.

Having shipped four goals in each of their previous two home games it was a real lift for his struggling side ahead of their big Johnstone’s Paint Trophy semi-final at Fleetwood on Tuesday night.

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Bentley knows a positive result at Highbury and one at home to Exeter in League 2 on Saturday will set his side up nicely as the season nears its halfway point.

He said: “When we win everyone’s positive and looking to the next game but it’s different when you lose a couple.

“The big one was getting knocked out of the FA Cup because we knew that we had a Conference South side in the next round.

“That was the body blow and what really upset everyone.

“But it can happen. Nobody feels it more than me but players are only human beings and sometimes their confidence can be knocked.

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“There is pressure on the players and myself with the results that we’ve had but I always tell the players that’s the game we’re in and we’ve got to embrace the challenge.

“That’s what we’ve done. Now we’ve got back to winning ways the picture soon changes.

“It’s mad, people are talking about how we’re only five points off the play-offs.

“We’re looking upwards now, Exeter are three points ahead of us in the division and we’ve got a good cup tie coming up against Fleetwood.”

“We’re set up nicely but it’s a long season. We’re not even halfway.”