Morecambe boss Jim Bentley: I can understand fans losing patience with me

The Shrimps were 5-0 down at the break with two further goals after the interval confirming the result as Morecambe’s heaviest Football League defeat.

Bentley said: “That’s the most inexperienced backline we’ve had.

“We’re missing Barry Roche, Adam Dugdale and Shaun Beeley and we’ve tried something for the right reasons and it’s backfired.

“We’ve got to live and learn. It’s a crushing defeat. The whole season has been a nightmare for one reason or another.

“We’ve been excellent going forwards this season but defensively we’ve been shocking and that’s been highlighted tonight.

“We had an inexperienced backline and goalkeeper that got given the runaround by good players.”

Bentley conceded pressure was mounting on him, The Shrimps now 20th in League 2, but insisted he was trying to do what was right for the future of the club.

He said: “I can understand pointing the finger at me as manager but there’s a bigger picture people need to look at.

“We’re trying to get one or two of our young lads into the team because ultimately we’ve got to bring them through.

“We don’t have the finances to go and bring in players who have got the experience at this level.

“We’ve got to get the balance right and it’s been a difficult season. But as manager of the football club I’ve got to do what’s right and there’s a lot to take into consideration between now and the end of the season.

“There’ll be a lot to take into consideration in the summer.

“I can understand people losing patience with me but I’ll keep my beliefs, keep working hard and come out fighting.”