Morecambe manager Adam Lakeland is preparing his side for a tough FA Cup test against Southport this Saturday. The Shrimps host their National League North rivals in the second qualifying round at the Halo Aerospace Stadium, aiming to start a cup run that requires three wins to reach the first round proper.
It is the first time in several years Morecambe have entered the competition at this stage. They do so on the back of a 3-0 home win over Brackley Town last weekend, a result that lifted them to 10th in the league table with 13 points from nine games. That victory was their third consecutive home win, a feat not achieved since January 2023, and part of a run of four wins from their last five matches.
Lakeland acknowledged the challenge posed by Southport, who were the last team to beat Morecambe just over a week ago. "Southport will be tough opponents though as we saw this week," the manager said. That 2-1 defeat on the road is the only blemish in an otherwise strong recent sequence for the club.
With confidence high from a clean sheet last time out, the focus is on making home advantage count. "We have to make it the exact opposite and make it incredibly difficult for them," Lakeland added, underlining his intent to reverse the recent result. The team's recent form, shows a pattern of strong home performances.
A win would set up another qualifying tie as the club looks to progress. After the cup fixture, attention returns to the league with a trip to face Chorley on Boxing Day.
This story first appeared at Lancaster Guardian Football
