Morecambe manager hopes a free midweek pays off at Harrogate Town

Morecambe return to action at Harrogate Town tomorrow with manager Derek Adams hoping to reap the benefits of a free midweek.
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After playing five consecutive Tuesdays, the Shrimps head to Wetherby Road looking to bounce back from defeat to Newport County AFC seven days earlier.

That run of Saturday-Tuesday fixtures has meant a slight change to the players’ training pattern.

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“It (the break) has been good for us because it has been a long, hard period,” Adams said.

Morecambe manager Derek AdamsMorecambe manager Derek Adams
Morecambe manager Derek Adams

“We have to do a lot less when we have the midweek games from the point of view of the load on the players.

“We worked six days a week in that period. We came in on a Sunday and got the ones who haven’t played some training, while the other ones were given a recovery period.

“We got through it well so we’re happy with it. They all had their first Sunday off for a number of weeks, which I think they enjoyed!”

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Defeat to Newport had seen the Shrimps drop from fifth to seventh in League Two.

However, despite seven matches being played in midweek, they remained well in the mix at the top end as teams all dropped points.

It means Morecambe are only six points behind the leaders Cheltenham Town, who visit the Mazuma Stadium next Saturday.

They look to close the gap tomorrow, though they face a Harrogate side who have enjoyed a revival of late.

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After only winning three of their previous 17 league games, victory against Newport at the end of January began a run of seven wins in 10.

Harrogate lost at Morecambe in December but Adams has been impressed by their debut EFL season.

“They are a dangerous team and they have changed their ethos a bit,” he said.

“They started playing 4-4-2, then they went 4-3-3 and went back to 4-4-2.

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“It’s a system of playing that suits them and they have had a number of very good results.

“I like the way they have come up from the National League and attacked the division.”

Morecambe will be without the suspended Sam Lavelle and Yann Songo’o while Nat Knight-Percival, who would be a likely stand-in for Lavelle, has not trained this week as he recovers from an ankle ligament injury.

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