Morecambe boss Bentley targets happier trip to Home Park

The Shrimps suffered their biggest defeat of the campaign, 5-0 in March, on their last trip to Home Park but Bentley believes his side’s good defensive run will continue against a side that are without a win in five themselves.

Two of those games were 0-0 draws meaning it looks set to be a tight game in Devon.

He said: “We’re a lot tighter this year and that was one of those games where everything went wrong.

“I remember Shaun Beeley coming off at half-time because he wasn’t playing particularly well which wasn’t like him.

“One or two other things went against us and we got what we deserved on the day.

“They are struggling to score goals at the moment but they’ve got good players.

“Reuben Reid is one of the top strikers at this level, they’ve brought Bobby Reid back in from Bristol City who’s been an excellent signing for them.

“We know about Lewis Alessandra so we know we’re going to have to be on our game. 
“Defensively we’re in good nick at the minute, to concede one penalty in the last four games is a great achievement at any level.

“We’re creating chances, something like 57 over the last five games, but we’ve only hit the target something like 17 times which probably isn’t good enough.

“We’ve got to make sure we apply the finishing touches and start scoring more goals.”

The game pits two play-off rivals against each other with Argyle two places and two points outside the play-offs with the Shrimps a further three points back.

Bentley insists he is looking “up not down” the table but knows League 2 will only get tighter as the season progresses.

The Shrimps boss said: “It’s all still to play for.

“We like to look up rather than down but I think a lot of the teams down the bottom will pick up.

“I watched Tranmere last week against Accrington and they were excellent, I think they’ll get out of it and other teams are investing and freshening their squads up.

“The league seems to be getting a little bit tighter as it did last year but we want to continue this unbeaten run.

“We’re five points off the play-offs and if we can beat Plymouth that will move us closer.

“That’s the aim, to make sure we come back up north with something in the bag.”

On the injury front Alan Goodall, ankle, Kevin Ellison, knee, Laurence Wilson, hamstring, are expected to be fit for the game.

Andy Wright was due to undergo hernia surgery on Friday.