Morecambe boss Bentley: We should be 'banging walls down' to get at Newport

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley says his side should be 'banging walls down' to get at Newport County on Saturday.
Jim Bentley. Picture: Matt RushtonJim Bentley. Picture: Matt Rushton
Jim Bentley. Picture: Matt Rushton

The Shrimps chief has demanded a response from his players after they surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 late on against Mansfield on Tuesday night.

Bentley said: “To be fair to them when we’ve asked for a response in the past we’ve usually got it.

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“But they should be banging walls down to get at Newport on Saturday because I know I certainly am.

“I can’t wait for the next game. In football, you can’t dwell on the past and you’ve got to look to the future and be positive.

“It’s another home game straight away which I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into knowing another three points will get us back on track.”

The Mansfield defeat was the first of three home games in seven days for The Shrimps in what was seen as a big week in the season. 
Bentley insists however that Tuesday’s result doesn’t heap pressure on his side on Saturday and believes in the grand scheme of things they are in a decent position.

He said: “We’re not in a must win at all costs situation.

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“We’ve got aims about where we want to be and we’ve discussed this with the players from day one.

“When an opportunity like that on Tuesday comes around we should be grasping it, even more so when you’re 1-0 up on 85 minutes.

“That would have put us right on the outskirts with a game in hand on one or two of the other teams with another home game coming up.

“It’s not a pressure situation. If we were bottom of the table I’d say yeah, but as I said on Tuesday night we’re doing okay.

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“I’m a winner and I want to get as high us as I can but it’s a very tough league.

“We’ve improved over the summer but I think the division’s massively improved.

“If you’re realistic and look at the bigger picture we’re not in a bad position.

“We’re much closer to the play-offs than the relegation zone and Saturday is another big game.”

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There is arguably more pressure on Newport who are scrapping for points to stay in League 2 under Warren Feeney, their third manager of the season.

Bentley said: “There’s a lot more pressure on them but the league can soon change.

“If they go and string a few wins together they’ll pull away. They’ve got a couple of teams below them who are in worse form than them.

“They’re all tough games though and Newport will be no different because they’re scrapping for their lives.

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“They’ll come here and look at our result on Tuesday and think we’re wounded and try and play on that.

“Hopefully we’ll come out the other way. We want a response and want to fight back which is what we’re looking to do.”

The Shrimps will be looking to make is six of the best against the Exiles having won the previous five meetings.

Bentley said: “We’ve come from behind a couple of times, there’s been sendings off and plenty of goals but we’ve won every game.

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“We seem to be a little bit of a bogey side for them. I don’t read too much into that though.

“There’s a new manager and new players in the set-up that will give them a little boost.”