Morecambe boss Bentley: We’re not already on the beach

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley insists he won’t let his side finish the season like they’re already on the beach.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley.Morecambe boss Jim Bentley.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley.

The Shrimps received plenty of criticism from fans for their display in the 2-1 defeat to Burton at the Globe Arena last time out.

And having seen Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Brewers secure promotion on the day Bentley now takes his side to face another team bidding to reach League 1, Wycombe, on Saturday.

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Bentley said: “We want to finish strongly and enjoy it but we won’t be taking our foot off the gas.

“I think it’s too easy for fans all around the country to say when you’ve got nothing to play for that you’re in holiday mode.

“There’s absolutely no way we are though.

“If we were we wouldn’t be in training as much as we are. Our preparation’s exactly the same as it has been all season.

“We’re going to Wycombe the day before to prepare right, we have done it on the day in the past, but the club have backed us and we want to prepare as well as we can to get a result.”

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Bentley wants a reaction from his side after the Burton defeat against a team who have undergone something of a transformation this season.

After securing Football League survival on the final day of last season Gareth Ainsworth’s Chairboys sit in the last automatic promotion place on goal difference with two games to play.

The Shrimps boss admits it gives encouragement to all sides in the division, including Morecambe.

Bentley said: “We owe it to ourselves to bounce back.

“I’m good mates with Gareth Ainsworth and they’re looking at getting promoted.

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“That turnaround is like Hull City getting in the Champions League next season.

“It’s a great achievement and it’s something all clubs, us included, could look at doing next season.

“That’s what you want to aspire to.”

Despite having a good relationship with Ainsworth, Bentley is prepared for his side to have a say in the automatic promotion race with a game against fourth-placed Southend also to come on the final day of the season.

He said: “What will be, will be.

“Wycombe have had a fantastic season and every credit to them.

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“They’re full of energy and full of work rate and they’ll be similar to Burton were in the opening stages on Saturday.

“They’re looking to get automatic promotion but we’re going there to give a good account of ourselves.

“And then we move on to Southend which is another game where we’ll have a say in who gets out of the division.”