Salford City are our hosts on Sunday 17 March, as we make the trip to Greater Manchester to continue our Sky Bet League Two campaign.
Morecambe will be hoping to return to winning ways on the road on Sunday afternoon, when they make the trip to the Peninsula Stadium to face the Ammies.
It is the second away trip of the week for the Shrimps, after their Tuesday night fixture took them across the border to South Wales to face Newport County. The game itself was not short of goals, the net bulging on no fewer than eight occasions at Rodney Parade. Two of these goals came from Gwion Edwards - the winger scoring his first goals for the club either side of a Chris Stokes strike. These three goals did not prove enough, however, and the Exiles ultimately came out 5-3 victors on the night.
Salford City also played midweek, Stockport County the visitors at the Peninsula Stadium after making the short trip to Salford. It was a game of two halves, with the hosts going into the break two goals to the good thanks to a Luke Garbutt strike and a Curtis Tilt header. After the break, the momentum shifted, and goals from Ibou Touray and Isaac Olaofe secured a point for the visitors; the spoils shared between the two Greater Manchester sides.
Sunday’s two sides last faced each other at the start of September 2023, when Salford City made the journey to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium. On this afternoon, a first half goal from Michael Mellon proved enough to keep all three points in Morecambe.
The Opposition
The Ammies have a mixed start to their Sky Bet League Two campaign. 10 wins and 11 draws have placed them 20th in the Sky Bet League Two standings, on 41 points. Despite recent wins against promotion-pushing sides including Wrexham, Barrow and Crewe, Karl Robinson’s side have not seen themselves higher than 19th in the standings in 2024.
Robinson has been at the helm at the Peninsula Stadium since 5 January 2024, after Neil Wood was sacked during the Christmas period. Robinson previously spent a long spell as Oxford United manager, and has also had tenures at Charlton Athletic and MK Dons.
Key Players
The one-to-watch in the Ammies attack is centre-forward Matt Smith. The 34-year-old has scored 24 times in his 43 appearances so far this season, including 23 in the league. This places him at the top of the league goalscorer standings, alongside Notts County’s Macaulay Langstaff.
Defensive midfielder Elliot Watt has also played an important role in the side’s efforts this season, with eight assists to his name in his 32 outings for the Ammies this season.
Ged Brannan’s Pre-Match Thoughts
Morecambe manager Ged Brannan spoke on the character within the dressing room at the club, and on the challenge ahead.
“We’ve got loads of character,” he said. “We’ve got loads of belief, loads of fight. We’re a really good team and they’re all winners in that changing room.”
“They all want to win, and they were so disappointed after the game the other day. They will be right up for it on Sunday.”
“The pitch isn’t the best and they are very direct [at Salford]. We’ve got to go there with our sleeves rolled up and put a performance in.”
The Man in the Middle
Sam Purkiss will take charge at the Peninsula Stadium on Sunday afternoon, in what will be the official’s 28th fixture of the season. In his previous 27, Purkiss has shown no fewer than 124 yellow cards, with another 11 reds being brandished by the man in the middle.
One of these reds, alongside six of the yellows, were given in October when the Shrimps faced Colchester United. On this afternoon in Essex, Purkiss oversaw a 3-1 Morecambe victory.
Ollie Williams and Alex Gray will run the line, with fourth official Kenwyn Hughes completing the officiating team.
Team News
JJ McKiernan, Brandon Barker, Stu Moore and Donald Love will remain sidelined for the Shrimps, with defender Farrend Rawson also a doubt.
Watch Live!
Those who are not travelling to the Peninsula Stadium on Sunday afternoon will be able to follow the action with an iFollow Shrimps video match pass.
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