Bentley backing Morecambe to upset the odds again at Cobblers

The Cobblers are flying and are joint top of Sky Bet League Two having lost just two league games since September, but the Shrimps are enjoying a decent season themselves.

They are 13th in league two, but only five points off the play-off places, and are on a tidy four-match unbeaten run.

In their most recent away game they turned over high-flying Wycombe Wanderers, and Bentley says that result will give his players belief.

“This is a game where no-one will give us any hope,” said Bentley of the trip to Sixfields.

“Northampton have won nine out of the last 10 and are the leading goalscorers in the division.

“But we’re second (top scorers), they’re defensive record hasn’t been great and ours hasn’t been great so it’s got the makings of a good game.

“We know it will be a tough game for us but we’re four unbeaten ourselves.

“Nobody really gave us a chance last time we went away to Wycombe and we won that game.

“I’m sure Chris Wilder won’t be underestimating us and we certainly won’t be underestimating them.

“It’s a challenge we’re really looking forward to at the start of a big two weeks in our season with the amount of games coming.”

Bentley has been impressed by the Cobblers’ performances this season, and admits he is a big fan of Town boss Wilder.

“Northampton are right in the promotion places and seem to have got the financial difficulties behind them,” said Bentley.

“Chris Wilder’s a good manager, one of the ones I’ve got a lot of time for.

“I’ve known Chris a lot of years and he knows the league inside out.

“What he has done is recruited well. They’ve got a nice balanced squad with two quality players for each position.

“You can see that with the likes of (James) Collins coming in (from Shrewsbury) who is very similar to Marc Richards.

“In the wide areas they’ve got (Lawson) D’Ath, (Ricky) Holmes, (Nicky) Adams and people like that.

“They’ve got good quality going forwards and goals all over the park.”

Kick-off at Sixfields is at 3pm.