Morecambe boss Bentley: Our luck has to change soon

The Shrimps will bid to get a first Football League win over John Coleman’s side at the 17th attempt having had a luckless start to the new season.

Bentley’s men have played well against both Hartlepool and Sheffield United but have slipped to two defeats without scoring.

They have also seen new captain Peter Murphy ruled out for three months after picking up knee ligament damage against Hartlepool while Aaron Wildig limped off against the Blades.

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Bentley said: “We’ve been out of luck so far this season so hopefully we’ve saved it up for Saturday.

“The record against Accrington is a strange one but it is what it is.

“It’s got to end at some point and we’ll be doing all we can to make sure that it’s Saturday.”

There have been positives in defeat over the last week but Bentley wants his side to get their season up and running sooner rather than later.

He said: “I’d rather play poorly and get a win or at least pick up a point.

“I’ve looked at that game from Saturday (at Hartlepool) twice and we could have easily won 7-3 and on Tuesday I thought we played well as well.

“I’m sure the Morecambe public will think that as well but unfortunately we’ve been on the wrong end of a defeat.

“We’ve made good chances and asked questions again but just didn’t have that little bit of the rub of the green.”

Wildig will be assessed ahead of the game while Adam Dugdale and Tom Barkhuizen could also make their competitive debuts after ankle and thigh problems respectively. 
For Murphy however it is a different story having picked up the serious injury just two days after being named Morecambe captain.

Bentley said: “I gave him the captaincy on Thursday and then seven minutes into the game he’s leaving the ground on cruthces and in a knee brace.

“It’s a big loss for us and it’s a big for him because he wants to really make an impression at a new club.

“We’ve got to make sure we do right by him and don’t rush him.

“He’s got a plan of attack for the next two or three months and hopefully when he comes back he’s fit and strong and keen to make up for lost time.”

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