Derek Adams hails ‘mentally strong’ Morecambe after Swindon win

Derek Adams praised Morecambe’s fighting spirit after seeing them beat League Two relegation rivals Swindon following Hallam Hope’s late winner.

His side went 2-0 up inside 14 minutes via Jamie Stott and Ben Tollitt only for Town to claw themselves back into it from substitute Aaron Drinan and Ryan Delaney.

But Hope broke the Hearts of his former club with a 78th-minute winner, leaving Morecambe level on points with Swindon.

Adams said: “We fought and harried to get the winner and we could have scored another one.

“It was a thoroughly deserved victory for us today, nothing more than the players deserve.

“Because to come away to Swindon, one of the biggest teams in the division and win was very pleasing.

“We kept them at bay. And, you know, we didn’t really let them have many big opportunities.

“We had to have players who were mentally strong and it’s not easy coming here, because the size of support of the crowd. They were getting behind the team.”

Adams believes Morecambe are in a good position to climb the table having played 11 of the 12 top teams already with easier games to come.

He added: “We shouldn’t be in the position we’re in at this moment.”

The Shrimps went ahead after just six minutes from Stott’s diving header from Luke Hendrie’s pinpoint cross from a short-corner routine.

Eight minutes later Adam Lewis’ free-kick found the unmarked Tollitt at the far post and he smashed home from close range.

Drinan scored with his first touch seconds after coming off the bench with a delightful lob from Harry Smith’s knock-on from a free-kick in the 32nd minute.

Four minutes after the break Swindon centre-half Delaney levelled with a low shot after the Shrimps failed to clear from a throw-in.

With 12 minutes left Hope raced onto Hendrie’s through ball to blast home.

Swindon manager Ian Holloway said: “We have to defend better than that for the first 20 minutes.

“It is a game where it’s really windy and the other people have nothing to lose to catch you.

“They showed that desire and I don’t think we did. It is nothing like what we prepared. It just happens sometimes.

“We didn’t impose ourselves in the way that I wanted. What I did like was the fightback. But I didn’t expect to start like that. That was awful. We have to sort these basics out – the set-plays.”