During their first season back in the Football League, The Imps picked up two points against Morecambe. The first match of the season against them, which was played in front of a crowd of 8,060, was The Imps first home match back in the Football League. Aaron Wildig put the visitors ahead in the 53rd minute and Matt Green levelled in the 70th minute. After the match, Morecambe’s manager, Jim Bentley, said: “You have to be pleased with the point really because I can see Lincoln steam-rolling a lot of teams here this year.”
The match the Globe Arena was played on 24th March and finished 0-0, in front of a crowd of 1,883. The less said about it the better, so let’s move straight to the Q&A!
Thank you to Morecambe supporter Rob for answering our questions!
How long have you supported Morecambe?
This is my 12th Season supporting Morecambe.
Where did you finish last season?
22nd.
What do you think of your Manager?
He is a club legend and as the longest-serving manager in English Football, I think he does a great job with the budget he has.
What are your hopes and expectations for this season?
My hopes are a mid-table finish but priority is to stay in the league. Any more is a bonus.
One(s) to watch?
Kevin Ellison. You never know what he’s going to do next. He’s 40 in February and he continues to score goals.
Who do you think will finish in the top 7?
I think it’ll be between MK Dons and Lincoln for the league. Bury, Oldham, Tranmere, Exeter and Mansfield will fill the rest of the top 7 I think.
Who do you think will finish in the bottom 2?
Macclesfield Town and Notts County.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
Great fans. Certainly going to be going up this season.
What do you think the score will be?
2-1 Morecambe.
What will your likely default formation and style of play be for this season?
4-2-3-1. I think when we go to the bigger clubs we try and let them come at us for the majority of the game. Tire them out essentially and counter-attack late on. We did this at Forest Green and won the game 1-0.
Random fact about your Club?
Never been relegated.
If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?
John Akinde as he is a great target man who also seems comfortable with the ball at his feet.
What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Morecambe Supporter?
My proudest moment was survival last year away at Coventry. It was so tense and I never want that again. My most embarrassing moments were losing in the FA cup to teams like Halifax and Dover.
Who would you say is your most underrated player?
Kevin Ellison gets a lot of stick regarding his age. Last season he was one of our Top Scorers. You can never doubt him.
Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?
Yes, and they are a great contact if you have any questions/suggestions around the club. They were set up recently because of the ownership/boardroom issues.
Which was your favourite match involving Morecambe?
4-3 against Yeovil. 2-0 down after 20 minutes. We come back to 2-2. They score at the end and everyone’s thinking that’s it. Then we level about a minute after. Then Ellison scores a 20-yard header to loop over the keeper in the last minute.
Which was your least favourite match involving Morecambe?
We went away to Cambridge away and lost 7-0 in 2016.
Last season, there seemed to be a lot of unrest about Bentley’s style of play i.e. perceived to be too negative and set out not to lose, hence drawing so many. Has there been a change this season?
Yes. The players last season weren’t playing to a standard. This season we have a lot more quality in the final third.
Mandeville was seen as one of the football league’s hot prospects at one point a couple of seasons ago, how’s he doing?
He is someone who loves to take defenders on and put them on the back foot. He is a really good addition to the team because he puts a good performance every week.
Oswell was an interesting signing, does he look good enough for the football league or should he be back to non-league/Wales/not Morecambe?
I think he is a great player for us. Obviously, he needs time to settle but he scored his first goal for us last week. Let’s hope he kicks on.
You have ex-Imp Jordan Cranston in your ranks. How’s he doing?
He is amazing. Naturally, a left back, Cranston has moved to centre-mid recently due to the injury crisis we have there.
"You never know what he's going to do next.":https://t.co/eXFFSwyWb6#ImpsAsOne #Shrimps #Morecambe
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) December 14, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/1973747215994847
