Jim Bentley: Morecambe manager rues penalty misses and defensive errors after Mansfield defeat

Both Shaun Miller and Paul Mullin missed from the spot as The Shrimps’ search for a League 2 win went on, their run without a victory now at five games.

Bentley however insisted that the defeat to Northampton aside, the run didn’t reflect how recent games have panned out.

The Shrimps boss said: “It sums up our season.

“I know it’s a results business and we’re in a bit of a sticky spell but I think the Northampton game is probably the only one we deserved to lose.

“We've had plenty of penalties this year and to be fair we've done alright with Mullin and Miller who've usually dispatched them but if you can't put them from away from 12 yards you’re struggling.

“That's the type of thing we're up against.

“Sometimes you don't always get what you deserve and that's been us.”

Bentley was perhaps even more frustrated by his side’s inability to defend corners as having gone 1-0 up inside a minute through Kevin Ellison, Krystian Pearce’s header turned the game on its head after Matty Blair had earlier levelled things up with a deflected strike.

The Shrimps boss said: “Over the season we can see what our Achilles heel has been.

“We've created enough chances but we're just too easy to score against us.

“The first goal's got a bit of luck about it and that can happen but the second goal that's down to us.

“We can talk about it all day long but once those players go over that white line it's up to them.

“It's great delivery but we've got to be a little bit stronger in the middle.”

Bentley has also rued his side’s luck in recent weeks with regards to refereeing decisions and again thought a possible second for Ellison was incorrectly ruled out in the first half.

He said: “We had an offside goal which I’m being told was onside which again sums up our season because it’s Ellison again who has probably had six or seven goals ruled out for offside.”

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