Danny Grainger urges Morecambe to build on win over Fleetwood

Morecambe assistant boss Danny Grainger said his side fully deserved the vital three points they picked up from their 4-2 victory over Lancashire rivals Fleetwood.

Two debut goals from Andy Dallas inspired the Shrimps to only a second home win of the season, with a result that lifted them off the foot of the League Two table.

Grainger said: “I thought we got what we deserved today. We were the better team by a long way throughout the game, scored four and hit the woodwork twice as well.

“We were the team on the front foot and the boys deserved what they got. We have struggled for goals lately and we had a different approach today with three strikers on the pitch and it worked well.

“Andy Dallas made a great debut and showed that he is a goalscorer but he took some pressure off others to find the target as well and that is a real boost for us.

“What we need to do now is build on this and pick up some consistent results. Every single player celebrated together at the end and it showed the togetherness we have. They are determined to stick together and get us up the table.”

Morecambe started the game on the front foot, with Hallam Hope hitting the crossbar before they took the lead through Callum Cooke’s 13th-minute penalty after Shaun Rooney’s handball.

Cooke then hit the woodwork from a free kick before Fleetwood levelled just before the break when James Bolton was left free in the box to head home Phoenix Patterson’s corner.

Dallas then came to the fore with two goals in eight minutes after the restart before Matty Virtue gave Fleetwood hope of a comeback with a tap in following some poor Morecambe defending.

Ryan Graydon missed a golden chance to level the scores when he failed to beat Harry Burgoyne when put through on goal and he was made to pay when Marcus Dackers headed home Adam Lewis’ left-wing cross to give Morecambe the points.

Fleetwood boss Pete Wild gave an honest assessment of the game.

“Across the game I thought they were the better team and I thought they deserved the win because they were better in both boxes than us and that was clear for everyone to see,” Wild said.

“I think the referee gave them a leg up with the penalty which was clearly outside the box with his hands by his side and that didn’t help but I have no complaints because the better side won and sometimes you have to take that on the chin.

“We struggled to cope with Morecambe physically and they did to us what we have been doing to others and that is ultimately what cost us the game. To be outdone that way is highly frustrating and shows we have to work on our consistency.”