Morecambe boss Derek Adams expressed his frustration as the Shrimps lost 1-0 away to nearby rivals Barrow.
It was a narrow encounter on Halloween night, the difference maker a Dom Telford half-volley in the middle of the first half.
Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, the Scottish coach said: “Over the night it wasn’t a classic football match. They had two attempts on target, we had one attempt, and one of theirs has gone in tonight.
“We don’t deal well with the long ball, we don’t win the header, we don’t win the second ball and then it goes into the back of the net from there.
We worked hard, we didn’t find solutions to the problems tonight. We couldn’t get any rhythm and that’s probably credit to Barrow because they made it that type of game.”
Despite the tough loss, Adams credited his team’s effort in tough conditions in Cumbria.
He continued: “We tried hard but we couldn’t find that solution and get in behind them at times. When we did, we maybe didn’t get the break of the ball. I thought at times we didn’t get some decisions that were correct.
“Maybe the one with Michael Mellon on the halfway line, where he’s gonna get through and he gives a foul against him. I think it’s probably an easier decision for the referee to give a foul for Barrow as he is the last man rather than give a foul for us then he has to send him off.
“Over the night, we didn’t play like we can do, and that sometimes happens.”
However, the Shrimps’ boss felt that the 1-0 scoreline was an unreflective result. The 48-year-old concluded:
“I think a draw would have been fair tonight. I can’t say any team deserved to win the game, we certainly didn’t and I don’t think Barrow did as well.”
Morecambe have a short break before travelling to Sincil Bank to face Lincoln City in the first round of the FA Cup this weekend.
Writer’s View
It was an unremarkable game at Holker Street last night, with the game being decided by a lapse in defending to give the Bluebirds three valuable points and put them just below the play-off places. Adams’ reflection on the match is correct, though, as neither team troubled one another enough to convincingly say they deserved to win. Morecambe certainly didn’t, with only three shots in the 90 minutes, all within the first half.
The game allowed Adams to reintroduce his recently injured players, with Cardiff loanee Eli King making his first appearance in a month as well as the return of Donald Love who missed the Tranmere match. Having two regulars return to the side will be a positive boost for the Lancashire outfit as they look to upset a tricky Lincoln side away this weekend. The Shrimps’ nine-game unbeaten run before last night’s loss should be a good sign for another possible sprinkling of that FA Cup magic.
