MORECAMBE manager Jim Bentley says his side only have themselves to blame for their narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Swindon Town this afternoon.

Donal McDermott’s curling strike from the edge of the box after 13 minutes proved the decisive moment in this League Two contest at the Globe Arena, although Bentley believes his side should have done much more to prevent it.

The Shrimps were opened up by a quick Paul Mullin free-kick on halfway, which gifted Ben Purkiss and then McDermott acres of space in the home half for the latter to beat goalkeeper Barry Roche from distance.

“I don’t want to talk about a decent performance, I am so frustrated. We didn’t make good decisions, typified by the goal,” said Bentley.

“On the halfway line, we gave away a stupid foul, we didn’t react and they got in down the left. McDermott is all left foot and we have just shown him inside, opened the angle up and he’s bent it in the corner and that’s ultimately what has cost us the game.

“If they go and beat us four or five nil, I can hold my hand up and I would probably be in a better mood, saying we have come up against a really good side, one of the favourites for the division.

“To get beat 1-0 in that manner doesn’t half hurt.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose but we deserved to lose because we didn’t make that decision at a key time.”

Morecambe came to life after Town’s opener and threatened to draw level on numerous occasions, although Bentley felt their best chance of an equaliser was harshly denied by the officials.

Aaron Wildig beat the Town offside trap just before the break, only to be brought down as keeper Lawrence Vigouroux rushed from his line but any sanction that may have come Swindon’s way was nullified by a raised offside flag.

“Aaron Wildig got past the defender and although he was offside when he got brought down by the keeper, the lad has left his leg out and taken Aaron down,” said Bentley.

“On another day, it’s a sending off and a free-kick on the edge of the box. That’s a decision that has gone against us.”