Bentley hails character of team as Morecambe battle back for Northampton draw

Posted Sunday, January 27, 2019 by PA

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley praised his side for their determination as they fought back from a half-time deficit to draw 1-1 at Northampton – but felt they could have claimed all three points if luck had gone their way.

The Cobblers led at the break thanks to Timi Elsnik’s 21st-minute strike, the midfielder having an instant impact at his new club having signed on loan from Derby on Friday.

But Morecambe were level within seven minutes of the restart thanks to Richie Bennett’s close-range finish, and the Shrimps then had the better of the chances in a scrappy game at the PTS Academy Stadium.

Unfortunately for the visitors they did not take them, but Bentley was still proud of his team’s performance.

“It was a fantastic goal for us at the start of the second half, and then arguably we could have gone on and won it,” said the Morecambe boss.

“We have had a goal disallowed and we have worked the keeper as well.

“Northampton have had a couple of efforts at the other end, so overall it is a fair result, but when you come on that strong in the second half you are hoping you can just go and nick the win we so badly need at the minute.

“There were plenty of positives there though, we showed character to come back.

“When all is said and done, we are where we are in the league and we have come away from home for an early kick-off, have gone 1-0 down, but then shown determination to hit back.”

Northampton boss Keith Curle was left to rue his side’s failure to make the most of their first-half dominance.

“The first half showed glimpses of what we are looking for,” he said.

“We got on the front foot, and could have maybe moved the ball a bit quicker in the wider areas, but there was a good tempo.

“Morecambe are a difficult team to play against because they want the game to be played in the middle of the park, and they then want to hit you on the counter-attack, so you need to move the ball quickly.

“At times in the first half I thought we caused them problems, but then lacked a little bit of quality.”

He added: “We got the goal at a good time, but then needed that second goal and if we had got that it would have stopped them camping in the middle of the pitch and defending.

“In the second half, they got the goal at the right time for them which gave them something to go for, and then we got frustrated because we were making wrong decisions in the final third.”