Cobblers clash at Morecambe given go-ahead after inspection

With temperatures last night dipping below freezing in the north west, the game had been in doubt.

But it has got warmer through the day, and a local referee has deemed the surface playable.

A statement from Morecambe FC read: “The Morecambe pitch has been looked at by a local referee who is happy with the efforts being made.

“There are heaters on the ground and with the temperatures due to stay above freezing that should mean the game will go ahead this evening.

“No further official inspection is due although the match referee will of course make a standard check on arrival.”

With the game now set to go ahead, Morecambe boss Jim Bentley has called on his players to show their true character when they take on the Cobblers.

The Shrimps boss was furious with his side’s capitulation to a 4-1 defeat at Barnet on Saturday, saying he was ‘hurt’ by the lack of fight shown by his side as they conceded four second-half goals.

And the manager has told his players in no uncertain terms that he wants a major reaction.

Bentley told Morecambe newspaper The Visitor: “If we play like we did at Barnet we could get steamrollered by teams like Northampton and Gillingham (who visit the Globe on Saturday), and that is something we can’t allow to happen.

“We have to stand up and be counted like we have done for the majority of the season.

“A couple of times this season we have crumbled when we have conceded a goal and things have gone against us and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

“On Saturday we lost our shape and didn’t show enough desire to win a game of football and that was what hurt me most.

“I am proud of what the lads have achieved this season overall but we were not at the races for much of the game at Barnet and that was not acceptable.”

Bentley is hoping that Andy Fleming and Andy Parrish will be available again for selection against the Cobblers after both missed out on Saturday.

Fleming picked up a thigh strain in training last week while Parrish is still suffering from the same injury which he received against Bristol Rovers recently.

Goalkeeper Barry Roche will serve his one-game ban on Tuesday night after being sent off at Underhill, and he will be replaced between the sticks by Andreas Arestidou.