Team in focus: Morecambe - strengths, weaknesses and prospects

Sky Bet League Two

Crawley 1 Morecambe 1
Lubala 44 (pen) Stockton 81

Crawley Town v Morecambe match report

Carl Stockton's late equaliser sent the 93 Morecambe fans home happy and it will have also cheered new boss Derek Adams, who was taking charge of his 500th career match, although it was his first Sky Bet League Two clash as the Shrimps' manager.

It was deserved point too and the final shot stats - 20-7 in favour of Crawley - were not a true reflection. Most of those were long-range efforts and it was the visitors who created the better chances.

The majority of those came early as they nearly broke the deadlock three times in the opening ten minutes. George Tanner had his attempt saved, Aaron Wildig's outside-of-the-boot shot just went the wrong side of the goal and Stockton hit the post.

Crawley dominated the ball but it was again Morecambe, through Tanner's fellow wing-back Luke Conlan's attempt, looked more threatening until Bez Lubala's penalty put the hosts in front just before half-time.

The second half was fairly dull and passed without incident until Stockton converted following good play down Morecambe's right.

Morecambe tactics

Adams started with wing-backs and three centre-backs, which was more of a five-man defence despite Tanner and Conlan getting high enough up the pitch to have goalscoring chances.

Alex Kenyon sat just in front to protect the rearguard and they worked hard to keep Crawley at a distance from goalkeeper Mark Halstead.

Only Carlisle have leaked more goals in League Two and Adams said after taking over: "We've conceded a lot of goals this season and we have to stop that."

His approach on Saturday was a step in the right direction.

Morecambe strengths

By defending in numbers there was a determination not to allow Crawley easy chances but Morecambe's best moments came when they got the ball up to target-man Stockton, who showed signs of a bright partnership alongside the slightly deeper Lewis Alessandra.

Morecambe weaknesses

The Shrimps did not look after the ball well and are still clearly learning what Adams wants.

There were times when the Scot was having to talk them through step-by-step set-piece routines on where he wanted certain players and how the free kicks were supposed to be taken.

Morecambe goalscorer bets

Wildig scored in Adams' opener against Carlisle in the EFL Trophy and was keen to break from midfield in this contest.

The goal against Carlisle was almost a year since his last but there could be much less of a wait for his next one.

View from Morecambe manager Derek Adams

"It was a very good away performance. We started very well and could have scored three goals early. The resilience pleased me the most. We have to tidy up in certain areas and we are going to take it a step at a time."

Morecambe prospects

The point moved Morecambe off the bottom of League Two and it's harsh to make them relegation favourites judging on this evidence.

Adams is a clever manager at this level - he took Plymouth up to League One and wasn't far off leading them to the Championship before losing the fans and dressing-room in last season's relegation campaign.

Morecambe are punching above their weight by bringing him in and Adams has the tactical nous to keep the side with the reported lowest budget in the division.

How did Crawley Town play?

Crawley were booed off after extending their poor spell to one league win in the last ten and apart from Reece Grego-Cox's input on the right wing there was not much to get excited about.

They looked like a bottom-third side, although there was at least a bit more to admire once Ollie Palmer replaced the lightweight Ashley Nadesan in attack.

Crawley Town v Morecambe teams

Crawley 4-1-4-1: Morris; Young, Tunnicliff, Dallison, Sesay; Bulman; Grego-Cox, Camara, Ferguson (Bloomfield 83), Lubala (Nathaniel-George 61); Nadesan (Palmer 65).

Morecambe 5-3-1-1: Halstead; Tanner, Sutton, Lavelle, Old (Sullivan 78), Conlan; Brewitt, Kenyon, Wildig (Leitch-Smith 63); Alessandra; Stockton (Ellison 84).

Next three league fixtures

Crawley: Exeter (h), Stevenage (a), Port Vale (h)

Morecambe:Crewe (a), Carlisle (h), Plymouth (a).

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