Former Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams was appointed as the new manager of Morecambe on Thursday, succeeding Jim Bentley.

Morecambe currently sit rock-bottom of the Football League after 17 games. The Shrimps have recorded just three wins all season and notched up 10 defeats so far. Last month saw the departure of a club legend in Jim Bentley after 17 years of service to the club as both a player and a manager. 

He took over the club as manager in 2011 and became the Football League’s longest-serving manager in the process. His replacement is former Ross County and Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams.

Adams has had a very impressive managerial career so far, guiding Ross County to two promotions and a cup final over two stints. He then oversaw a transformation at Plymouth, taking them from League Two up to almost reaching the League One play-offs in the three seasons.

Morecambe presents a different task this season as he looks to stave off relegation. Here, we take a look at three things Adams must address as soon as possible at Morecambe…

Home form

Morecambe are currently in desperate need of turning around their fortunes at home. If they are to survive relegation out of the Football League, they must begin to pick up more points at home.

They have won just once at home this season and drawn three out of nine home fixtures so far, which Adams will know is not good enough. Away performances have in fact been better than their home ones, as they have gained more points on their travel than at the Globe Arena.

Adams’ first task is to make their home patch a fortress so they have a foundation to build from and gain some confidence. 

Organise the defence

So far, Morecambe hold the joint-worst defensive record in the division, conceding 29 after 17 league games. To ensure the Shrimps begin to pick up points from games, they need to become harder to beat, which coincides with improving their home form.

They cannot continue in their same pattern as the lack of goals they score means they can’t win games. If Adams is to put a stop to leaking goals, they have much more chance of winning games with the odd goal here and there.

Utilise Lewis Alessandra's strengths 

Morecambe’s current top scorer is forward Lewis Alessandra on five in 16 appearances, with two assists. He is Morecambe’s key player in attack and if they are to mount a push for survival, he will be crucial in doing so.

Alessandra is vastly experienced at League Two level with 50 career goals in the division with a number of clubs. On top of this, when Derek Adams took over at Plymouth, Alessandra was a key player there for him so the bond between them could be utilised to the Shrimps advantage this campaign.