“I’m sure we will get better in that department”: Jim Bentley seeks Morecambe defensive improvement

Bentley’s first eight games in charge since returning have seen Morecambe score 16 goals, only to concede 17.

That left them with the National League’s worst defensive record ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sutton United, having shipped 77 in 36 matches.

While it constitutes something of an improvement after conceding 32 in the opening 10 games under Ashvir Singh Johal, it remains a puzzle Bentley is determined to solve.

A back four has become a back three, containing veterans in Harlee Dean and Liam Hogan as well as a vastly experienced keeper in Jamal Blackman.

Bentley said: “We conceded five at Southend and that was the first time I’d gone strong after a game.

“What that game did do, though, was it gave me an opportunity to have a full week’s training with the lads.

“We showed them the video over two days, showing them where they were going wrong.

“OK, we conceded four at Gateshead but that was a bit of a freak in terms of penalty decisions – one in particular – and we lost to York, which was tough to take because we did really well against them.

“We’ve got good experience at the back now, they all have leadership qualities and I’m sure we will get better in that department.

“We can’t forget, though, they have been thrown together and we’ve changed formation, so it does take time to gel.”

The hope is that defensive gelling process comes to fruition sooner rather than later, given wins are a necessity with the Shrimps facing a third relegation in four seasons.

As well as going to three at the back and moving Jack Nolan to a front two role with Chris Popov, Bentley is trying to create a Morecambe team which has more than one string to its bow.

He added: “The game against Southend, there were times when we had possession but when it turned over, we got done a couple of times on the counter-attack.

“We’ve worked on that, we’ve worked on being solid and we’ve looked good with the ball.

“The third goal the other night (at Wealdstone) was a great move and we’ve scored from a set play, which is becoming more and more important as we’ve seen in the Premier League.

“We’ve actually scored quite a few goals from goal-kicks, where we haven’t won the header but we’ve won the second ball and gone from there.

“The lads are taking information on board because they’ve gone from one style to another. We’re now quite rounded.

“It’s not a case of being a team with possession-based football, scoring a really good goal with a great passing move, but we do look more of a threat on set plays.

“We can still play football and score from range, as Jack Nolan has done, but we can score from counter-attacks and set plays.

“Any team that wants to do well has to be rounded and find different ways of playing football.”