Morecambe boss Bentley: We need to tighten up at the back

Hartlepool's Rakish Bingham gets in behind the Morecambe defence. Picture: Joe Spence

Jim Bentley wants his side to tighten up defensively in their bid for a first Football League win over Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

While Morecambe have impressed going forwards in defeats to Hartlepool and Sheffield United Bentley believes all of the three goals conceded so far this season were avoidable.

Neil Collins’ header to hand the Blades victory in the 92nd minute on Tuesday night was a particular sickener as he rose above a static defence to knock The Shrimps out of the Capital One Cup at the death.

Bentley said: “We’ve got to be better.

“I’m disappointed in the three goals we’ve conceded. I think they could all have been avoided.

“We’ve got to tighten up individually and as a group.

“Every time they go out on the pitch they know who they’ve got to pick up and if there’s a sub made they readjust.

“It’s been too easy to get a free header six yards out and on Tuesday in the 92rd minute all our preparation and all the work leading up to it was gone with one mistake.

“That’s the disappointing thing but you can’t feel sorry for yourselves and we’ve got to move on.”

Things have been all together more encouraging at the other end of the field despite The Shrimps drawing a blank in both games.

Bentley said: “We created enough chances to get something from the game against Hartlepool and on Tuesday performance wise it was good again.

“We played some good stuff and on another day we could have nicked it 1-0.

“I’m pretty pleased with the performances and on Saturday we just need to try and tighten up and put one or two away to get off the mark.”

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