Bowyer hails Bentley before all-seaside showdown

Like Blackpool, the Shrimps progressed to the next round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday, when they beat Rotherham United 5-4 in extra-time.

Blackpool head into the clash full of confidence after winning their League opener against Exeter and knocking League One Bolton out of the EFL Cup, also in extra time.

And Bowyer, who is set to take charge of his first away game after taking over from Neil McDonald in the summer, praised Bentley for the work he has done at Morecambe during his five-year stint as boss.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche this week said English managers do not receive enough recognition – he is one of only four in the top flight – especially when compared to their overseas counterparts.

And as Bowyer prepares to come up against a fellow English boss on Saturday, the Pool manager echoed Dyche’s sentiments and said he is surprised a club from a higher level has not swooped for Bentley due to his impressive record at a club with one of the lowest budgets in the Football League.

He said: “Morecambe had a fabulous win the other night themselves. I read a very good article yesterday by Sean Dyche about English managers and it is something I firmly believe as well.

“If you look at my first two games in this league, I have come up against two very experienced managers – Paul Tisdale last week and Jim Bentley this week.

“In my opinion, Jim does not get the credit he deserves for the job that he has done there.

“It has been fantastic and he deserves all the plaudits he should get.

“To be in the job as long as he has been, to produce the players he has and get them taken off him he deserves great credit.

“He just keeps going and produces results like he did the other night. That just highlights the challenge we face on Saturday.

“Like Sean Dyche was saying, here is someone who has done it with limited resources and plays the right way.

“I’m surprised that people in the higher leagues don’t take notice of what has gone on at Morecambe because he really has done a fabulous job there.”