Morecambe boss Bentley: We can still get better

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley believes his side can only get better.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley talks tactics with assistant Ken McKenna.Morecambe boss Jim Bentley talks tactics with assistant Ken McKenna.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley talks tactics with assistant Ken McKenna.

The Shrimps are unbeaten in their last three scoring nine goals in the process but with a depleted squad set to be boosted this Saturday at Yeovil Town Bentley believes things are looking up.

He said: “I still think we’re not at full tilt yet.

“Look at Tom Barkhuizen who has come in and done really well, it was his first 90 minutes in something like three of four years on Tuesday night.

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“It’s unbelievable. What’s he going to be like if we can get regular games into him?

“Shaun Miller’s had a difficult couple of seasons and he’s still getting up to speed, Aaron Wildig only played nine games last season.

“We’ll have (Kevin) Ellison coming back into the frame now, (Paul) Mullin’s still learning his trade and we’ve got Jack Ryan a young lad coming in.

“We’re not blessed with lads who’ve averaged 40 games a season for the last three or four years, we’ve taken lads who for one reason or another have lost their way and we’re giving them a platform to rebuild themselves.

“The signs at the moment are good.”

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The Shrimps have been particularly impressive going forwards but Bentley is keen to keep his side’s feet firmly on the ground.

He said: “We’re looking good on the break.

“It’s pleasing that the stuff you work on gets carried out.

“We knew going to Portsmouth they were going to dominate large spells of possession and we worked on where we could get out and how we could hurt them.

“We did exactly the same with Walsall and the first goal was three passes from our half before a great finish from Jamie Devitt.

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“The second goal was even quicker, two passes and Tom Barkhuizen smashes it in the net.

“We’re looking good and long may it continue. They’re exciting times but we’ve got to make sure we keep their feet on the ground because it has a habit of biting you on the bum if you’re not up and at it.”

The game at Huish Park on Saturday is the first Football League meeting between the sides.

After back-to-back relegations there has been plenty of changes under Paul Sturrock meaning there is an element of the unknown for The Shrimps this weekend.

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Bentley said: “After a couple of promotions and a couple of relegations they fins themselves back at League 2 level.

“Paul Sturrock’s come in and he knows the league inside out. There’s been a lot of player turnover and they haven’t really clicked yet.

“They’ve had injury problems of their own so who knows what to expect.

“What we can do is look at their strengths and weaknesses and make sure we get our own house in order and continue to do the good things that have got us results recently.”

Kevin Ellison and Ryan Edwards will return from three-game bans for The Shrimps on Saturday.

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