180323 Oppo Morecambe

The Imps head to the Globe Arena on Saturday looking to make it three consecutive victories.

Danny Cowley's men go into the game with 3-1 victories over Chesterfield and Grimsby Town in the previous two outings, and have narrowed the gap to the play-offs in the process.

With the backing of over 500 Imps in Lancashire, City will be looking to make it nine points from a possible nine, as we enter the closing stages of the league season.

Here we take a look at our opponents' form, their manager's comments, previous meetings and one to watch at the weekend.

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Recent form

Despite being sat in the lower reaches of League Two, Morecambe have started to pick up some good results as of late, and have proven be a thorn in a few sides in the higher reaches of the league.

The Shrimps have lost one in their six league outings, which was a 1-0 defeat at table-toppers Accrington Stanley. 

In those previous six, they have taken maximum points at Wycombe Wanderers and defeated play-off contenders Exeter City.

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Jim Bentley's side ended their home campaign of 2017 with a 4-3 win over fellow strugglers Yeovil Town, and have since lost just once at home courtesy of a last-gasp winner by Mansfield Town.

The home victory over Exeter is their only home win in the league this calendar year, but they have proven difficult to beat with three draws occupying the one win and one loss.

Last six: DWLDWD

Last six position: 9th

League position: 18th (Nine points from the drop)


Manager's comments 

Jim Bentley spoke to the local press ahead of Saturday's fixture at the Globe Arena.

Talking about his side's league position, Bentley said: “We’re nine points clear of the bottom two with a better goal difference and we’ve still got a game in hand on most of the teams below us as well.

“Our form’s not bad. We’ve just drawn too many games and haven’t taken the chances that have come our way.”

Following on from the midweek draw with Colchester United, Bentley has also hinted at mixing the pack ahead of Saturday's clash.

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“I didn’t make any changes on Tuesday night but we’ll probably make changes on Saturday,” he said.

“Lincoln didn’t have a game in midweek so we’ll have to use the squad.

“Whatever team goes out will know their jobs and hopefully put in the same endeavour and work rate and desire as what they showed on Tuesday night but hopefully get on the end of one of the opportunities we’re creating.”

Previous meetings

The first time the two sides met was the season after the title-winning year of 1975/76.

Albeit in an FA Cup fixture, the Imps progressed into Round Two with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Percy Freeman.

The Imps and the Shrimps had to wait 24 years to lock horns again, as the two sides met in the LDV Vans Trophy in November 2000, where Grant Brown overtook Tony Emery's all-time appearance record of 424 games in a City shirt.

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On the night, a hat-trick from Lee Thorpe ensured a 3-2 victory on a historic night at the Bank.

October 2007 saw the first ever league meeting between the two sides, with a 1-1 draw played out at Sincil Bank.

A first ever trip to Morecambe ended in a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Ben Wright and Paul Green later that season.

Our last trip to Morecambe, in 2010, saw the Imps run out 2-1 winners again, before a seven-year halt to our meetings and a 1-1 draw at Sincil Bank upon our return to the EFL.

One to watch - Kevin Ellison

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39-year-old Ellison has been an ever-present at the Globe Arena and Christie Park since his arrival nearly eight years ago.

73 league goals later, the former Hull City man remains a key figure in Lancashire, and is the Shrimps' top scorer this season with 10 goals.

The Liverpool-born forward had a loan spell during Keith Alexander's reign with the Imps, appearing 13 times, including the play-off semi-final against Huddersfield Town in 2004.

Ellison made a name for himself with Altrincham at the turn of the century, before being rewarded with a move to Leicester City in 2001.

Having also had spells with Stockport County, Chester, Hull City, Tranmere Rovers, Rotherham United and Bradford City, Ellison has consistently performed at Morecambe and has become a favourite among supporters.

He has over 600 league appearances to his name, with 136 goals to support it.