Morecambe manager settles for a point with Southend United

The Shrimps could have climbed into the automatic promotion places with victory against a Southend side struggling to beat the drop.

They had trailed to Timothee Dieng’s first-half header but avoided a first league loss to their visitors thanks to Cole Stockton’s second-half volley.

The point lifted Morecambe into fifth place in League Two, a point behind third-placed Tranmere Rovers going into Saturday’s trip to Port Vale.

“It was a very good game,” Adams said afterwards.

“I think both teams showed they wanted to win the match.

“We’re at the top end of the table, Southend are at the bottom end, they are fighting for their lives and we’re trying to get into the automatic promotion places.

“We went behind to a great goal. It was difficult to get back into the game because they are a good side and they have done well in recent times and probably shouldn’t be where they are in the table.

“My players showed a lot of character to get back into the game.”

Adams had warned in advance that Morecambe couldn’t take Southend’s lowly position for granted.

The visitors backed up that view by having the better of the opening half-hour, capped by Dieng’s goal.

After that, the Shrimps enjoyed plenty of possession, and though Stockton got them back on terms, they could not find the second goal as Adams opted against making any changes.

The manager said: “We made some bad choices with passing and crosses but scored a fantastic goal from Cole Stockton.

“It looked like we were going to go on and win the game from there but, in the end, do we go for it or take the point?

“It was a difficult one substitution-wise. We had a problem with Dieng in the middle, and if we take Alex Kenyon off and leave that gap, they might get an opportunity.

“That’s the reason we didn’t make a change in the game.”

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