Derek Adam praises Morecambe’s spirit after comeback at Fleetwood

Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2024 by PA

Morecambe boss Derek Adams praised his side’s spirit after they produced a late turnaround to earn a 2-2 Lancashire derby draw at Fleetwood.

The Shrimps looked down and out at half-time after Ryan Graydon’s header and Ronan Coughlan’s effort at Highbury.

But captain Yann Songo’o halved the deficit in the 74th minute before substitute Hallam Hope’s dramatic 86th-minute leveller.

Despite the comeback, the visitors remain rooted to the foot of Sky Bet League Two without a win all season.

But Adams, who watched the game from the stands as he served a touchline ban, said: “The team epitomises what we do.

“Yann is such a leader and he goes to get the goal to make it 2-1. Hallam comes off the bench to equalise.

“I was in the dressing room at half-time because you’re allowed to do that, there’s no problem with that.

“I was communicating with the touchline throughout the match.

“It’s been the story of our season. We haven’t had enough opportunities on target, but we get into good areas.

“To get from 2-0 down to 2-2 and last week with 10 men to get to 3-3 shows the spirit inside the squad.

“The spirit has to be the most pleasing thing because quality wise we weren’t good enough.

“I’ve got to be proud of the players and the way we keep on going.

“We will eventually get the results we have deserved earlier in the season.

“Tonight we’ve got a point which didn’t look like it would come our way.

“I think Fleetwood thought the game was finished and it wasn’t. It shows what can happen in football.

“We need that win to take us further forward, we know we’ve got to get that.

“We’re continuing to fight. Yes, we need more quality, we understand that but the players are willing to learn and listen.”

The Cod Army are still unbeaten at home in the league.

But boss Charlie Adam cut a frustrated figure after the game.

He said: “There’s frustration. It was two totally different halves from my team.

“It was really disappointing second half. If you can’t defend the basics of the game then you put yourselves under pressure and we did that.

“It’s bitterly disappointing because the first 45 minutes was good.

“We were in control. But they were a totally different team second half.

“We’ll have to learn from that quickly because we know what this league is going to be about. If you don’t have first and second contacts then the game will be harder.

“We’re hugely disappointed with the result and we will pick the bones out of it because we have to get better and improve.

“We felt we gave them opportunities and allowed them to get balls into the box.

“The goals weren’t down to lapses in concentration. It was much more than that in terms of three or four things we could have done before conceding the goals.”