Shrimps set for Stags test
Jim Bentley says the Shimps need to be ready for a battle when they face Mansfield Town at the Globe Arena on Saturday.
Mansfield have won their last two games and hit the 50 point mark - something Bentley is aiming for this weekend.
The Morecambe boss thinks his side need one more win to be safe and is wary of the physical threat posed by Paul Cox’s side.
Bentley said: “Mansfield are probably one of the most physical sides in the league.
“They’ve got big centre forwards and centre halves and are big on set plays so it’s going to be a battle.
“We’ve got to stand up and be counted. We’re disappointed with last week’s result but all our energy this week has been put in to bouncing back.
“I’m going to send the lads out with a cup final mentality that they’ve got to win the battle first and foremost and then hopefully we’ll have a little bit too much football for them.
“We know where we can hurt them but this Mansfield side is a big, strong, organised, physical unit so it’s going to be a tough game for us.
“I think one more win will probably see us home.
“The sooner we get that the better because you can start picking one or two teams off above you.”
The Shrimps are without a win in their last five but are set to have Andy Parrish and Shaun Beeley available again after knee and hamstring injuries respectively.
Chris McCready is set to miss out however with a pulled thigh muscle that saw him replaced in the early stages at Bristol Rovers while Andy Wright is struggling with a dead leg.
On-loan Manchester United youngster Liam Grimshaw is yet to spend much time at the Globe Arena due to a knock but Jordan Mustoe played an hour in the reserve defeat at Wrexham on Wednesday as he looks to improve his match fitness.
Bentley said: “Jordan Mustoe’s not played that much football at Wigan so we were reluctant to put him on (against Bristol Rovers).
“But he played in the reserves and that was good for him.
“Grimshaw’s had a bit of a knock but we’ve brought him in as a youth loan because of the suspension situation. It only takes a couple of bookings and we would have been down to the bare bones so he’s been brought in with that in mind.
“We know what we’re going to get but his knock means he’s not 100 per cent to come out of Man United and join us so we haven’t seen much of him.”