Morecambe manager Adam Lakeland demands character from players
Morecambe manager Adam Lakeland has called on his players to show more determination and grit as they approach a busy Bank Holiday weekend. The Shrimps host AFC Telford United on Friday before visiting the early leaders, Chester, on Monday as they seek a first win of the National League North season.
Having suffered a third successive league defeat at Radcliffe last Saturday, Lakeland has made it clear to his players that they need to raise their game. He said: “We have to show some character and we have to show that we are willing to compete. “I know when people are competing properly and I know when people think they are competing properly - and I don’t think we are earning the right. “In moments in games when things are against us - the loose balls, the duels - I am not seeing anywhere near enough of that from our lads. “It’s like we want the game to be a certain way and maybe we are a little bit stuck in our identity. “We are a little bit lost at the moment but they all sound like excuses to me. “At the end of the day you have to roll your sleeves up and compete and be prepared to put your body on the line. “I’m not seeing enough of that and I can’t tell you how much that pains me.”
He added: “You have to work hard, particularly when you are playing for a club the size of Morecambe in this league. “Everyone is bang up for it when they play against us and if we are not bang at it, we will continue to get run over and I won’t stand around and tolerate that. “There are a few players who are fortunate that we are under an embargo and have injury problems because I would be making changes. “At the moment our hands are a bit tied and some players are getting more game time than performances warrant. “If we get the embargo lifted and a couple of players back to fitness, there will have to be changes because the kind of effort level and performance we saw on Saturday will not get us to where we want to be and we need to make changes. “We are suffering a lot of bad luck and that is not an excuse. We have lost Cameron Coxe and Ronnie Blois to head injuries after Lewis Leigh, Taelor O’Kane and Ruben Curley suffered their knocks and things are going against us a bit. “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves and we need people to fight for everything because I certainly will. “To play for big clubs in this league like Morecambe, you need players with character, grit and resilience who are prepared to outwork, outfight and outrun the opposition.”
What comes next for Morecambe?
The Shrimps will be looking to bounce back from their poor start to the season as they face AFC Telford United on Friday and then visit the early leaders, Chester, on Monday. Ahead of a run of games you can check on our fixtures page for the latest schedule and results.
