Jim Bentley: We need to take a long, hard look at ourselves

The Shrimps were thumped 5-2 by Hartlepool at the Globe Arena as a wretched 2016 continued for Bentley.

The under-fire boss needs four wins from the final five games of the season to prevent it being the worst points return of his five seasons in charge.

The Shrimps, currently 19th in League 2, have the small matter of a Lancashire derby at promotion-chasing Accrington on Saturday with John Coleman’s side having elevated themselves into the automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win at Luton on Saturday.

Bentley said: “It’s a massive game.

“We’ve got to stick together and take all the criticism that comes our way.

“Everyone’s open to it and especially me because it’s my team.

“I love this club and will give it my all as long as I’m here.

“I want the players to reflect that but we lacked character and leadership on Saturday.

“We were beaten by the better side and now we’ve got to pick ourselves up and have a positive week and go again against an Accrington side who are doing extremely well.

“Fair play to them but we beat them earlier on in the season and we’ll be trying to do the same again on Saturday.

“We need a big week and everyone has got to look at themselves in the mirror and we’ve got to go again.”