SHRIMPS’ boss Jim Bentley has admitted that this weekend’s clash with bottom club Stevenage is “big'' for both clubs.
Morecambe failed to follow up Saturday’s win at Colchester as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Forest Green on Tuesday in a result that left them one point clear of Stevenage who lost to an injury time goal at Swindon.
And despite the fact the season is only 15 games old Bentley admits there is pressure on both teams for the points on Saturday.
He said: “It’s a big game for us without a doubt – we’re at the wrong end of the table.
“It’s an early six-pointer and it’s a ‘must not lose’ game because we don’t want the gap between ourselves and the teams above us to be increasing even more.
“Although we’re only a third of the way through the season, we’re in a relegation battle and we need to accept that.
“There’s no sugar-coating it, we’re in a relegation battle at the moment and this is a chance to put some daylight between us and them.
"If we think we aren’t, then we can be one, two or three wins from getting out of the bottom positions.
“It’s a chance to put some daylight between us and them.’’
The Shrimps will be without top scorer Lewis Alessandra who serves a one game ban after his sending off against Forest Green Rovers.