Morecambe boss challenges side to last the distance

The Shrimps made it 16 points from 21 this campaign with a 2-1 win over Plymouth on Saturday and next travel to Mansfield on Tuesday night.

Bentley has seen his side start well before only to fade but thinks a deeper squad will serve his side well this time around.

He said: “It’s a fantastic start, it’s what we wanted, but it’s still early days.

“We’ve done it in the past and we’ve just got to make sure we continue it now.

“I think we’re a bit better equipped this year with regards to personnel.

“We were missing quite a few key players on Saturday but those who have been out of the side have came in and staked a claim.

“There’s healthy competition for places and the games are coming thick and fast.

“We’ll have Mark Hughes back on Tuesday and hopefully we’ll have a couple of others back too.

“Everyone’s giving it their all, that’s all I can ask.

“We’re playing some decent stuff, scoring goals and winning games so what more could we want?”

Kevin Ellison is one of those players giving Jim Bentley a headache having taken his tally for the season to five with the opener against Plymouth on Saturday.

Bentley said: “Kev’s Kev, I know what he’s all about.

“He’ll get goals, he certainly puts a shift in, I think his tackling and closing down has been good.

“He’s a nightmare for teams to play against and a fantastic character around the place as well.”