Team News From The Morecambe Camp

Sammy McIlroy

Shrimps boss Sammy McIlroy spoke to his club's official website before Morecambe's FA Cup first round replay against Carlisle at Christie Park this evening, McIlroy alluding to a potential home tie at the next stage of the competition against Norwich that would also be broadcast live on the FA website :

" This is a massive game for the club now with an exciting second round draw. It's the last season at Christie Park and it is a ground that has a special atmosphere for midweek cup ties and it would be great for the lads to have a big crowd getting behind us.

" It is a tough game and there is a lot of football to be played yet but we have got a couple of results behind us now and are playing some good stuff so we don't have anything to fear. Carlisle are a good side but I know if everyone gives it their best we can give them a really tough game. A really good crowd will give the lads a lift as well I'm sure. ''




Tonight sees the two teams face each other for the third time in two and a half months, both games, like the other three occasions the sides have locked horns, ending in draws. Two of those five matches have been league games while the remaining three were cup competitions in which both sides have won a penalty shootout apiece in the two ties that went that far, so at the end of tonight one team has to come out overall and break the historical deadlock.

In team news for Morecambe, they are still without midfield pair Emmanuel Panther (toe) and Fraser McLachlan (knee), while also missing will be another midfield man in Stewart Drummond. The Shrimp currently serving a three match ban after being sent off for kicking out at Adam Clayton in the 2-2 draw at Brunton Park a week last Saturday.

The first match that Drummond had to sit out was Morecambe's 2-1 win at Crewe at the weekend and that game also caused the Shrimps another personnel problem. Skipper and centre-half Jim Bentley having picked up a calf strain in that League Two encounter that looks highly likely to rule him out of tonight's game. Drummond though had a good game at Carlisle and Sammy McIlroy commented to their official site on his absence :

" Stewart is a loss as he has been excellent. He gives us energy and spark, both in midfield and defence, and he has scored some crucial goals too. He did retaliate against the lad, and Stewart had to go - but something had gone on before that the ref missed and I wasn't happy with that.

" It is disappointing to lose him for three, but we'll just have to buckle down and get on with it. Andy Parrish got his chance a couple of weeks ago with Dave Artell's injury and he has been excellent. That is why you need a good sized squad at this level because these things are going to happen. "




Unlike previous years in the FA Cup the refereeing crew are different from the original game at Brunton Park ten days ago. The referee for tonight's match being Jonathan Moss from Leeds, and he will be assisted down the lines by Danny Roberts from Eccles in Greater Manchester and Dean Mohareb from Stockport. Meanwhile the fourth official is Ross Joyce from Middlesbrough.