Next Up: Exeter City vs Morecambe

With City’s faint promotion hopes finally extinguished in Bristol last weekend, the last pair of fixtures therefore have nothing riding on them for all concerned. Paul Tisdale’s thoughts may well therefore look towards next season and supporters will look at the side put out against Morecambe with inquisitive eyes. As a result it is difficult to say whether the more settled sort of line-up we’ve seen in recent weeks will continue, or whether there will be opportunities for fringe players such as Manny Oyeleke, Tom McCready and Jamie Reid to stake their place, and whether certain players whose careers could be almost over (e.g. Clinton Morrison) may get a last hurrah in front of the home fans.

Morecambe, despite having not been mathematically safe from relegation until Accrington put York out of their misery last weekend, have in truth been seemingly on the beach for several weeks now, while manager Jim Bentley has fielded experimental line-ups with a view to next season – something which has seemingly contributed to a dismal recent run which has seen the Shrimps concede 20 goals in their last four matches including a 7-0 humiliation at Cambridge and a 4-1 home drubbing by similarly out of form Stevenage last weekend. With the club’s backer finally having had enough and put the club up for sale, all is seemingly not well at the Globe Arena although the club is hopeful of attracting a buyer in the near future. Key players to watch include top scorer Shaun Miller, who has 16 goals in all competitions this season, and Tom Barkhuizen who has 12, while veteran Kevin Ellison is likely to be his usual annoying self!

The reverse fixture had to be rescheduled following a postponement and finished 1-1, Miller putting the hosts 1-0 up through a Miller penalty before Jayden Stockley scored the equaliser on his debut. It was the same scoreline the last time Morecambe made the long trip to Devon, McGowan putting the visitors ahead, Alex Nicholls capped a fine display off the bench with the equaliser before Tom Nichols earned a red card for kicking out in the last minute. City hold the overall league head-to-head lead with six wins to Morecambe’s three (nine draws).

Last season’s match details – http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?sp_event=4139

Match officials – http://www.exeweb.com/2016/04/26/match-officials-exeter-city-vs-morecambe/