Bentley predicts Shrewsbury success

An inspired goalkeeping display from the busy Scott Davies looked like earning Morecambe a point until substitute Andy Mangan claimed an 86th-minute winner for Shrewsbury.

The result lifted Micky Mellon's men, who remain unbeaten at home in League Two this season, up to second place in the table.

Bentley said: "On that evidence I think they will be in the top three. They're an ambitious club and I know Micky well. I've got a lot of respect and time for him.

"He's come into a new job, a new club, and he's really got them going. They've got good players, a crowd who really get behind them and I fancy them to bounce back and I hope they do.

"Fair play to them, they've got a great record at home and everyone coming here knows it's going to be a tough task."

Davies produced three fine saves from James Collins while he was also indebted to the woodwork for keeping out efforts from Bobby Grant and James Collins.

But even the Morecambe keeper was unable to prevent Mangan's close-range winner after he had initially pulled off another fine stop from Collins.

"You're always thinking in games like this that records are there to be broken," added Bentley.

"They're unbeaten at home and you're thinking 'well, we've weathered the storm here, and it's been a big storm. Can we hit them on the break and nick a smash and grab 1-0?' - but it wasn't to be."

Shrewsbury have made a habit of scoring late winning goals this season and Mellon, their happy manager, felt his side were worthy winners.

He said: "I'm really pleased with the performance. We knew that Morecambe were going to be well organised, be dogged and determined and fight for their manager and assistant manager who are two good guys.

"We never really lost our way and we kept trying to play our football that we know we're better at playing on a tricky surface.

"We kept on trying to play the right way and thankfully we got that opening. We picked that lock again and we got that well-deserved winner."

Mellon added he felt it was only a matter of time this side's pressure paid off with a breakthrough.

"I think you could feel it building and building," he said. "We kept knocking and knocking. That's why I had only made one substitution as I just thought we were creating chances and doing enough. I didn't need to change it.

"I just felt at some stage that door was going to open and we were going to get that winner so I was delighted."