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“Gutted for the fans” – Morecambe suffer blow to survival hopes and face winding-up petition

“I’m gutted for the fans” – Morecambe suffer a blow to their survival hopes and face yet another winding-up petition.

A 3-2 defeat for the Shrimps sees them plunge closer to relegation, while it boosted National League playoff hopes for their opponents, Hartlepool, who came from behind to move to within two points of those all important places.

Hartlepool are 9th with 60 points from 39 games played, Halifax are 8th with 62 points from 40 games, and Southend occupy the last playoff place, sitting 7th with 62 points from 38 games played.

Morecambe however are 23rd with 34 points from 40 games played, 6 points from safety.

The result comes on a day Morecambe were served with a winding-up petition, they said: “Morecambe Football Club can confirm that it became aware yesterday afternoon of a winding-up petition that had been filed against the club seven days earlier by one of its suppliers, KPM Groundworks Limited, in relation to a legacy debt incurred prior to the takeover by Panjab Warriors in August.

“This was the first notification the club had received regarding this action.

“Since becoming aware of the petition, the club has been in immediate dialogue with both the supplier and its legal representatives, with the aim of reaching an agreement to have the petition withdrawn at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Transcribed with the help of TurboScribe!

Jim Bentley said on his thoughts after defeat to Hartlepool: “Oh, God, a bit of everything to be honest. Feel a bit sick, feel a bit obviously gutted, frustrated.

“But I’m saying the same thing as what I said on Saturday. You know, we’re not in the game Saturday. We just didn’t defend two moments well enough.

“And that was the same story in the second half tonight. We got ourselves in the lead, you know, pleased, second phase from a corner. You know, they peg us back.

“Again, I’ve mentioned this to you before, that 30-second rule. I’m not saying it’s down to Ogwuru being off the pitch, why we conceded the goal. But obviously, you know, they get down the right and people are out of shape slightly, etc.

“But we’ve got to defend that instance better. And, you know, we’ve got to do better at that end as well when we get the ball. Because when Dan comes off, we have a 2v2 in the bottom corner.

“And they’re honest, lads. I’ll get on to the players in a minute. But, you know, Jack’s trying to get it half a yard and get the ball in the box.

“But we’ve got to realise the centre forward who we’re trying to get it into is off the pitch. And then suddenly the keeper takes it, throws it down the right, they get in. And we’re counting the clock down with the fourth official to try and get our player back on.

“So a little bit of naivety in that regard. But we’ve got to defend our box better on that instance where they get in.

“So you come out 1-1. They’ve had a couple of bits. We’ve had a couple of bits. You know, I don’t think there’s much in the game.

“Second half, we should be in the lead. Straight from the kick-off, they had a great chance. We’ve had another couple of chances.

“We got on top. We were attacking our own fans. I thought the fans were great. Got right behind us. Excellent. You know, I’m gutted for them more than anyone.

“Because I always say it’s their club. But we needed to get that goal together. It was up on our seats. You know, everyone out of seats and a bit of momentum. It did come in the end.

“You know, we go on the lead 2-1. Again, putting a good ball in. Putting bodies in the box. Covering all areas.

“You know, and I look and there’s loads of our shirts in there. And Jack Nolan’s bang, middle of the goal. Perfect to smash it in.

“Great, and then, as I say, like I said, Saturday. Two moments that we didn’t defend well enough. Two moments where they get in and score. And then right at the end, how they defend those two moments, clears that one from Ben Tollett off the line. And then from the corner, it drops to the feet of someone. Someone’s put the body on the line and got a deflection over the bar.

“They’ve done it better than us in those two moments. Which is obviously where the game’s won and lost for me. Because I don’t think there was much else in between. They’ve got some good players. They’re going for the playoffs.

“But, you know, I ask the lads when I come in to have no regrets. To battle, compete and run hard. And there’s evidence of that tonight. You know, I can’t knock them.

“I understand there’s frustration. I understand that, you know, people will look at the situation and have that frustration.

“But with regards to the players, I don’t think they can give me any more. They’ve trained well the last two days. They’ve been excellent in the warm-up tonight.

“You know, they’ve gone out there. They’ve battled and competed. They’ve run hard. We’ve got, you know, lads who are cramping up and having to come off.

“And yeah, they were flat out for us. But unfortunately, we’ve just come up short again. And that’s been the story, certainly, you know, Saturday and today.

“I think it was a better performance today. But we come away with the same result. And a hinged again, as I say, four shots on target Saturday. And we conceded three.

“And we don’t defend them moments well enough. And that’s what’s happened there in the second half. So, and first half, to be fair.

“But, you know, you can’t be 2-1 up at home and throw away two goals like we did in the manner in which we did. And there’s a pattern as well.

“And I’ve spoke to the players about this, that if we do get done down the side or someone gets into our box, it’s like a, I can get it because I’ve been in that position myself. But it’s like a safety net of like, oh, we better get to the line to clear it off the line. And we have a tendency to go to the line before we go to the player.

“One of the goals against Yeovil the other day was exactly the same. I think it was the second one. And that one tonight where Reid’s just pull off all our defenders. They’ve gotten down to the touchline. But he’s free as a bird, six, seven, eight yards out on his left foot and he puts it in the back of the net. So we’ve got to do better.

“But that’s where we’re at. We got it there. We wanted to win the game. We spoke last two days about it. We’ve spoke before the game today. We’ve had a good attitude. They’ve given it our all. I feel a bit sorry for them. You know, I can’t, I can’t have a go at them apart from those two moments.

“But we’ll look at them again. I’ve not seen them back. But they’ve had a go. They’ve represented the shirt in the right manner for me. We didn’t get the result. So I’m gutted for them. More so gutted for the fans.

“But yeah, that’s where we’re at. We’ve got another big game on Saturday. Quick turnaround. That’s virtually a must win where we’re at now.”

Interviewer: “You’re talking of where you’re at. Six games to go, six points for safety. It’s all or nothing now, isn’t it?”

Jim: “It is. We know that. I mean, I knew that when we come in. We’re in a better position than what we were. We’ve given ourselves hope.

“We got into an area where we think, right, this is our time to strike. I personally think that we should have quite a few more points than what we’ve got. I think playing at home should have been a win.

“And there’s quite a few overs along the line because I’ve looked over them. I’ve studied them. Southend’s the only game that got away from us.

“Wealdstone for me was a little bit of a smash and grab of them being perfect. On the night, I don’t think we deserved to win the game.

“But there is a few in there that we’ve lost that we probably deserve to draw on. There’s a few that we’ve drawn that we probably deserve to win.

“So we should have a few more points on the board. But it’s all ifs, buts and maybes.

“We’ve had opportunities in the last couple of games against Yeovil and Braintree to strike, get out the bottom four, put pressure on the teams in and around us.

“It hasn’t happened. As I say, I think the lads have been competitive. I think they’re working hard. I think they’re giving it their absolute all. But we let ourselves down against Braintree.

“Another goal that’s just come to my head. Exactly the same way. Jack Nolan misses his kick, falls to the goalkeeper. And we all run away from the number nine to the goal. And the ball falls to the 90 chest and smashes it in.

“Same as tonight. Same as the game against Yeovil. So that needs addressing. We’ve got to do better in that moment, as I say.

“But that’s where we’re at. We’ve got those games left now. We’ve got another home game on Saturday. It could have been so much better, but it isn’t at the moment.

“But we’ve got to keep fighting. It’s as simple as that. I’ve said that to the players in there. We’ve got to lick our wounds. We’ve got to make sure that we recover right.

“We’re playing a team, Aldershot, are in great form. We need the crowd behind us again. I get all the frustration and all that bit of negativity that’s knocking on because of the situation that we find ourselves in.

“But if ever we needed the fans, they’ve got to get behind us on Saturday. And hopefully, hopefully we can go and get three points. And suddenly the picture changes again.

“We’re obviously looking for a favour elsewhere. We’ve got a couple of teams in and around us. But yeah, it’s a big, big match for us.”

“Gutted for the fans” – Morecambe suffer a blow to survival hopes and face another winding-up petition…

@DanTakesOnFooty: It was a must win for Morecambe and they’ve lost it. That feels like a huge blow for them tonight and I think that’s them pretty much down with Truro. It’s at the time of the season now where even a point isn’t good enough for Morecambe they have to win and FAST.

@joeysmokey: Get a lead, sit back and then concede, rinse and repeat, just go and kill teams off at 1 nil instead of sitting back you could see it coming a mile off 😡😡😡

@JakeEnglish_: Embarrassing defending. They were doing the same play out wide every time and getting the same shot off easily. Subs were terrible as well, what was JB thinking. That’s it now.

@jim_bell17: Cannot wait to see the back of some of these shit players

@_Owxn_h8: These players deserve far more criticism than they get. Shite group of players who are as much to blame as Ash and Panjab for us being in regional football next season.

@Caprani14: Chester away better be a Saturday

@ShrimpsOnline: Weirdly despite the defeat I still enjoyed the football tonight. Having a manager you can get behind is critical. Only ask is we appoint someone semi-competent in NLN. We’re not a fussy fanbase and don’t take a lot to be pleased.

@LiamWither51660: Absolutely woeful defending with nearly every defender at the club on the field. Horrendous game management and substitutions. Azeez is an absolute liability and why he came into the team tonight is criminal. Popov worked hard but we are anorexic upfront. NLN almost definitely.

@MorecambeFCFeed: Spineless. Pathetic. No attention to detail. In no doubt that we’re down now and even post- the Johal shitshow we deserve it. Disgusting group of players who keep bottling it

@tashkentterror: Looks like the final nail in Morecambe’s relegation coffin Six points from safety and their last six games are Aldershot, Rochdale, Carlisle, Woking, Boreham Wood and Forest Green. Criminal to keep Johal in charge for as long as they did.

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