Morecambe boss Bentley: We shot ourselves in the foot

The Shrimps went down 2-1 in a game where all their problems were of their own making with Mark Hughes scoring a late header after Lucas Akins’ brace had all but assured Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side of victory.

Bentley said: “I don’t think we played the occasion well enough.

“They could smell blood and came right out of the traps.

“We want to play football and get on the ball at the back but sometimes the game doesn’t pan out like that.

“Every time it went to the ‘keeper or one of our defenders they swarmed round us and we made too many critical errors.

“Although defensively we’re as strong as we’ve been since we’ve been a Football League club the goals that we’ve gifted to teams at home this season have been shocking.

“We’ve cracked it away from home where there’s no chances taken and that’s what it called for today from minute one.

“It’s about getting the balance right. They didn’t need to build confidence or momentum today because we gave it too them from the off.

“We invited pressure. What happened to row Z or smashing it as far as you can when you’re under pressure?

“Everyone wants to see nice football but today we didn’t know when to clear it or when it was on to pass.

“We shot ourselves in the foot and we didn’t deserve anything which is disappointing.”