MORECAMBE have buckled up for another fight against the relegation odds this season.

It is familiar territory for the perennial survival battlers who are well accustomed to being written off.

Jim Bentley, the current longest-serving manager in the English professional game, certainly won’t panic at the early League Two table.

Twelve games in, the Shrimps have just one win under their belt to sit two points above bottom club Stevenage.

A 1-0 victory at Macclesfield represents their only success – they have not won in 11 attempts in all competitions since.

Easter Monday’s 4-0 thumping of Cheltenham was the last time Morecambe celebrated three points at the Globe Arena.

But for all the worrying statistics, there are signs of their fortunes slowly starting to turn.

In the last home game, Morecambe came from two down to rescue a 2-2 draw with Northampton, Kevin Ellison bagging a late equaliser.

And last week they led at Port Vale at half-time, before getting picked off by the home side after going down to 10 men.

Bentley admitted the 32nd-minute dismissal of defender Jordan Cranston for an off-the-ball incident was the “game changer”.

“We were doing really well, had the lead and were creating chances when Jordan was sent off,” he said.

“We were well on top and the crowd were on their players’ backs and we were cruising.

“We were on the front foot and I was really pleased with the way we were playing.

“I felt like we would get a chance to get a second but then we shot ourselves in the foot with Jordan’s sending off and it was the game changer.”

But with a sell-out 1750 away end for City’s visit, the Shrimps boss is confident of a response in a fixture which traditionally brings out the best in the home side.