Morecambe manager says fringe players didn’t take their chance in EFL Trophy

The Morecambe manager says most of the fringe players in his squad didn’t take their chance to impress in their midweek game against Liverpool U21s.

Derek Adams made eight changes for the EFL Trophy group fixture to the side that started against Gillingham in League Two last weekend, giving first starts in a Shrimps’ shirt to the likes of Cammy Smith, Charlie Brown, David Tutonda, Ethan Walker and Chris Stokes.

The Shrimps slipped to a 3-0 defeat, and although Morecambe could count themselves a little unfortunate to be on the end of such a scoreline, the manager wasn’t happy with a number of his players.

‘’It was a strange football match, and if the game had have finished 8-3 in our favour, nobody could have complained,’’ said Adams.

‘’We gave away three very poor goals, two of them deflections, and one we could have done much better with.

‘’It gave some players who haven’t had game time their first start, either of the season or for this football club, that said, (regular first team starters) Eli King and Michael Mellon were the best players on the park in the first half.

‘’That tells you something about the team selections that happen this season. The ones that had the opportunity tonight, the majority didn’t take that opportunity. That’s a pity, as it was a great opportunity for them, but for one reason or another, they didn’t take it.’’

Jake Taylor captained the side on Tuesday, and completed his first full 90 minutes for more than a year, after a series of injuries plagued the midfielder last season.

Taylor, who is yet to start in the league this season, but has come off the bench in six of Morecambe’s seven league games, started just 12 times in League One in his first season for the club after signing from Port Vale in the summer of 2022.

‘’It can only put me in good stead moving forward for the rest of the season,’’ he said.

‘’I had quite a few injuries last season, which sets you back. People from the outside don’t realise how long it takes to get the rhythm back, so the 90 minutes will do me a world of good.

‘’Injuries are the worst part of being a professional footballer, and I’ve had my fair share. But I’ve worked hard to get fit and hopefully that’s all behind me.

‘’The aim is to push for a first team spot now and when I get the chance to come on, try and make an impact.’’

Morecambe welcome Swindon Town to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on Saturday (September 23), looking to preserve their unbeaten home start to the League Two season.